Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated debate erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated copy. The notice, posted directly on the game's storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current use of AI tools and to address the concerns raised by former employee Stella Sacco, who alleges that she was removed from the project mid‑development and that her responsibilities were handed over to ChatGPT and other automated systems. The full text of the new disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent comments from Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Saca.
Ms. Sacco was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024. She says she was taken off the Rideshare Simulator team part‑way through production and that her duties were subsequently filled by an AI language model.
She also alleges that additional, undisclosed AI assistance was employed throughout the game's creation. In response, Mr.
Karch has stated that Ms. 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 CEO’s public statements have added further layers to the story.
During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch remarked, "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 AI would be used for specific aspects of the game and that a revised Steam page would be published once the feature set was finalized. "We view our use of AI in this particular title, which will be a lower‑priced offering, as a benefit for consumers," he added. Sacco, who posted a brief on the social network BlueSky over the weekend, wrote that 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." Karch later issued a separate statement 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 wrote. "It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." The controversy touches on several broader industry trends.
Over the past few years, game developers have increasingly experimented with large language models to generate dialogue, quest descriptions, and even entire narrative arcs. Proponents argue that AI can accelerate content creation, reduce costs, and free human writers to focus on higher‑level design decisions. Critics, however, warn that reliance on AI may diminish the quality of storytelling, lead to homogenized prose, and raise ethical questions about attribution and employment.
In Saber Interactive's case, the core of the dispute revolves around whether the decision to replace a human writer with an AI system was driven by creative considerations, budget constraints, or a combination of both. Sacco's claim that she was dismissed and that her work was supplanted by ChatGPT suggests a possible shift in the studio's production pipeline that may have been implemented without transparent communication to staff or the public. The CEO's admission that he "shot first and thought second" implies that his initial reaction to the allegations was impulsive, perhaps motivated by a desire to defend the company's reputation rather than to engage in a measured dialogue.
His later apology indicates an attempt to repair the relationship, but the lack of concrete details about how the studio plans to address the underlying issues leaves many observers uncertain about the next steps. From a legal standpoint, the situation could raise questions about employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and the disclosure obligations of companies that use AI in the creation of commercial products.
If a writer's contributions are replaced by an algorithm, does the original contract still apply? Are there obligations to credit the human author, even if the final output is largely machine‑generated? These are questions that have yet to be fully resolved in most jurisdictions.
Consumers, too, have a stake in the outcome. Some players appreciate the prospect of lower‑priced games that leverage AI to cut development costs, while others fear that the use of AI could result in a less immersive or emotionally resonant experience. The Steam disclaimer now serves as a point of transparency, allowing potential buyers to make an informed decision about whether they are comfortable supporting a title that incorporates AI‑assisted content.
Looking ahead, Saber Interactive may need to develop clearer policies regarding AI usage, both internally for its staff and externally for its audience. This could include detailed documentation of which parts of the game are AI‑generated, guidelines for how human writers collaborate with AI tools, and a commitment to maintain open lines of communication with employees who might be affected by such transitions. In summary, the addition of an AI disclaimer to Rideshare Simulator's Steam page reflects Saber Interactive's attempt to address a controversy sparked by allegations that a former writer was replaced by a language model. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologized for his earlier, reactionary comments and acknowledged the emotional triggers that led to his initial response.
The incident underscores the growing pains of an industry grappling with the integration of AI technologies, highlighting the need for transparent practices, fair employment considerations, and clear communication with both creators and consumers. The ultimate resolution will likely depend on how the studio balances efficiency gains from AI with the creative integrity and ethical responsibilities owed to its team and its audience.