Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit AI usage disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of controversy erupted over accusations that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project in favor of employing AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game's listing, is intended to clarify the role artificial intelligence played in the development process and to address concerns raised by the gaming community and media outlets. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent statements made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024.
Ms. Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator project midway through development and that her responsibilities were subsequently taken over by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI tools used throughout the game's creation. In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms.
Sacco was replaced by an individual he described as 'more talented' and that her employment was terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later. He further added that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI. "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," Mr.
Karch told the podcast This Week In Videogames. "We have already stated that we are using AI for certain components of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalized the feature set." "We view our use of AI in this particular title—intended to be a lower‑priced offering—as a benefit for consumers." In a post on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, Ms.
Sacco wrote that Mr. Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She continued, "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." Mr.
Karch also issued a public comment on LinkedIn, stating, "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. It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." The controversy began when Ms. Sacco, who served as the lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly claimed that she was removed from the project and that her duties were handed over to an AI system—specifically ChatGPT.
She further alleged that the studio had employed additional, undisclosed AI tools during the game's development, raising questions about transparency, authorship, and the ethical implications of replacing human creative labor with machine‑generated content. In defense, Mr.
Karch argued that Ms. Sacco's departure was not solely the result of AI substitution.
He described her as having been replaced by a more "talented" individual and suggested that her termination was due to a range of performance‑related issues that emerged a few months after her removal. Nevertheless, his comment that he would have been "happy to replace her with AI" in hindsight was interpreted by many as an admission that the company was indeed considering, or perhaps already employing, AI tools in a capacity that could supplant human writers. The CEO's remarks on the This Week In Videogames podcast added another layer of intrigue. When asked about Ms.
Sacco, he responded, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," referencing Claude, an AI chatbot developed by Anthropic.
This off‑hand comment suggested that Karch may not have had direct personal interaction with the writer in question, fueling speculation that the relationship between the studio and its staff might have been more remote than typical in a collaborative development environment. From a broader industry perspective, the incident highlights a growing tension within video game development: the balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and preserving the integrity of human‑crafted narrative. AI can accelerate tasks such as localization, procedural content generation, and even dialogue drafting, but its use raises concerns about originality, copyright, and the potential erosion of creative jobs. Saber Interactive's decision to update the Steam page with a clear AI disclaimer can be seen as an attempt to restore trust with its audience.
By openly acknowledging the presence of AI in certain aspects of the game, the studio hopes to mitigate backlash and demonstrate a commitment to transparency. The disclaimer also serves as a preemptive measure against potential legal challenges, as some jurisdictions are beginning to scrutinize the disclosure of AI‑generated content in consumer products.
Ms. Sacco's acceptance of the CEO's apology, albeit tentative, suggests a possible path toward reconciliation. She noted that she needed time to process the apology and consider what restitution might look like for her.
Her statement underscores the emotional toll that public disputes can take on individuals, especially when career reputations and creative contributions are called into question. Meanwhile, Mr. Karch's LinkedIn post reflects a common pattern among executives who find themselves under fire: an admission of a momentary lapse in judgment followed by a pledge to make amends.
By framing his reaction as a human error—"shot first and thought second"—he attempts to humanize himself and defuse the narrative of deliberate wrongdoing. The episode also raises practical questions for developers considering AI integration.
How should studios document AI contributions? What level of disclosure is ethically required to consumers? And how can companies ensure that AI tools augment rather than replace human talent? These are questions that the industry will need to answer as AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible.
In summary, Saber Interactive's addition of an AI usage notice to the Rideshare Simulator Steam page marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about artificial intelligence in game development. The controversy, sparked by former writer Stella Sacco's claims and the CEO's subsequent remarks, has led to public apologies, social media statements, and a broader reflection on the responsibilities of studios when employing AI.
While the final impact on the game's reception remains to be seen, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for other developers navigating the delicate balance between innovation and ethical transparency.