Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store listing for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of criticism erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, posted directly on the game's product page, acknowledges the use of AI tools in certain aspects of the game’s development and signals the studio’s intent to be transparent with its audience. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who worked at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024, and stated she was removed from Rideshare midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT, while alleging other then‑unannounced use of AI in the game's development." The background to the statement involves a former employee, Stella Sacco, who served as the lead writer on Rideshare Simulator for roughly a year. In a series of public posts, Sacco alleged that midway through the project she was taken off the team and her responsibilities were handed over to an AI system—specifically ChatGPT—without prior disclosure to the development staff or the broader community.
She also suggested that additional, undisclosed AI tools had been employed in other parts of the game's creation. Matt Karch, the chief executive officer of Saber Interactive, responded to these accusations with a mixture of denial, justification, and later contrition.
Initially, Karch claimed that Sacco had been "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," adding in a somewhat flippant tone that, looking back, he would have been "happy to replace her with AI." This remark was widely interpreted as dismissive, fueling the backlash from both fans and industry observers who were already sensitive to the growing debate over AI’s role in creative industries. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch further distanced himself from Sacco, stating, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He went on to explain that the company had already announced the use of AI for certain components of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalized.
Karch framed the AI integration as a benefit for consumers, describing the upcoming title—a lower‑priced offering—as a "plus for consumers" because of the efficiencies AI could bring. The situation escalated when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, noting that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She wrote, "I've been firm from the beginning that I was telling the truth; I think we can all now agree that it's been borne out. Matt expressed a desire to make it right with me; at this time I don't really know what that looks like for me, and I'll have to take some time to sit with it, but I do at least accept his apology." In a separate, more personal message on LinkedIn, Karch admitted that his initial reaction to the controversy had been emotionally driven.
"I unfortunately got triggered by certain later comments (for reasons I won't get into) and shot first and thought second about how to respond," he wrote. "It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." The controversy touches on several broader industry concerns. First, the ethical implications of replacing human creative talent with machine‑generated content remain hotly debated.
Writers, artists, and musicians have voiced worries that AI could erode job security and diminish the value of human storytelling. Second, transparency is becoming a legal and moral expectation; consumers increasingly demand to know whether the experiences they purchase involve AI‑generated elements. Finally, the incident underscores the importance of measured communication from corporate leaders. Karch’s admission that he "shot first and thought second" illustrates how impulsive responses can exacerbate reputational damage.
In the weeks following the apology, Saber Interactive has indicated that it will continue to monitor the use of AI within Rideshare Simulator and will provide updates as the development progresses. The company’s decision to place a disclaimer on the Steam page is intended to reassure players that the studio is not attempting to hide its AI usage, but rather to frame it as an intentional design choice meant to enhance the final product.
Industry analysts suggest that this episode may serve as a cautionary tale for other developers navigating the balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and preserving the integrity of human‑driven creative work. As AI tools become more sophisticated, the line between assistance and replacement will continue to blur, prompting studios to develop clear policies and communication strategies.
For now, the key takeaways are that Saber Interactive has publicly acknowledged AI's role in Rideshare Simulator, that CEO Matt Karch has offered an apology to former writer Stella Sacco, and that the company has committed to greater transparency moving forward. Whether these steps will fully restore trust among the game's community remains to be seen, but the incident has undeniably added another chapter to the ongoing conversation about AI's place in video game development.