Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam listing for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project in favor of AI‑generated text. The controversy began when former employee Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024, alleged that she was removed from the Rideshare development team midway through production and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT. Sacco also suggested that other, still‑undisclosed AI tools had been employed throughout the game's creation without proper attribution.
In a public statement, Saber’s chief executive Matt Karch responded to the allegations. He said that Sacco had "been replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added that, looking back, he "would have been happy to replace her with AI." Karch’s remarks were captured in an interview with the video‑game podcast This Week In Videogames, where he further confessed, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He went on to explain that the studio had already disclosed that it was using AI for certain aspects of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalized.
According to Karch, the use of AI in this lower‑priced title should be viewed as a benefit for consumers, positioning the technology as a value‑adding element rather than a cost‑cutting shortcut. The situation escalated when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, stating 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." Karch later issued a separate public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction. "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 admitted. "It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." The addition of the AI disclaimer to the Steam page reads in full: "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.
In response, Karch stated that Sacco was 'replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later,' and added that 'in retrospect [he] would have been happy to replace her with AI.'" The notice also emphasizes that the company intends to be transparent about AI usage moving forward. The controversy touches on broader industry debates about the role of generative AI in creative processes. As AI text generators become more sophisticated, many studios are experimenting with them for tasks ranging from dialogue writing to marketing copy. Proponents argue that AI can speed up production, reduce costs, and even inspire fresh ideas.
Critics, however, warn that reliance on AI may marginalize human writers, dilute artistic authenticity, and raise ethical concerns about attribution and labor practices. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the game is positioned as an affordable, lower‑priced experience, which Karch suggested makes AI integration a consumer advantage. He framed the technology as a way to deliver more content or polish within a tighter budget, thereby offering a better price‑to‑value ratio.
Yet the personal dimension of the dispute—namely the alleged dismissal of a human writer in favor of a machine—has sparked a conversation about how studios balance efficiency with respect for creative talent. Industry observers note that this is not the first time a developer has faced scrutiny over AI usage.
Recent years have seen high‑profile incidents where companies were accused of using AI‑generated art or prose without proper disclosure, leading to backlash from both creators and fans. Some platforms, such as Steam, have begun to require clearer labeling of AI‑generated content, aiming to give consumers the information they need to make informed choices.
For Sacco, the episode has been emotionally taxing. In her BlueSky post, she expressed a desire for clarity on what restitution might look like, indicating that while she accepts Karch's apology, the path forward remains uncertain. She emphasized that her primary concern is the truth of her experience and the need for accountability. Karch's LinkedIn apology underscores a common human response to public criticism: an initial defensive reaction followed by reflection and an attempt at remediation.
By acknowledging that he "shot first and thought second," he signals an awareness of his misstep and a willingness to correct it, at least in part. Whether this will translate into concrete changes—such as reinstating Sacco, offering compensation, or establishing more robust AI disclosure policies—remains to be seen.
In summary, Saber Interactive's decision to add an AI disclaimer to Rideshare Simulator's Steam page reflects a growing industry trend toward transparency regarding machine‑generated content. The dispute between the studio's CEO and former writer Stella Sacco highlights the personal and ethical complexities that arise when AI is woven into creative pipelines. As the conversation continues, both developers and audiences are likely to demand clearer guidelines, fair treatment of human creators, and honest communication about the role of AI in the games they love.