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 wave of controversy surrounding accusations that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The move comes amid a broader conversation in the gaming industry about the ethical and practical implications of using large language models and other AI tools in the creation of narrative content, dialogue, and marketing copy.
The full text of the newly posted disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024. Ms.
Sacco has claimed that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through development and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI‑assisted contributions throughout the game's production. In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms.
Sacco was replaced by an individual he described as ‘more talented,’ and that she was terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later. He further noted 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," Karch told the podcast This Week In Videogames.
"We have already said we are using AI for certain parts 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 game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a benefit for consumers." The disclaimer also references a recent BlueSky post by Sacco in which she wrote that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She added, "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 statement 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 former writer Stella Sacco, who joined Saber Interactive in mid‑2023, publicly alleged that her role on the Rideshare Simulator project was terminated prematurely and that her duties were handed over to an AI system—specifically OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Sacco’s claims suggested that the company had not only replaced her with a machine‑generated script but also employed additional, undisclosed AI tools in other aspects of development, such as level design, asset naming, and even marketing copy. These allegations struck a chord in the gaming community, where debates about AI usage have intensified following high‑profile experiments by other studios.
Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, initially responded with a terse denial, characterising Sacco’s departure as a standard personnel decision and framing the AI substitution as a hypothetical possibility rather than a concrete action. He described the writer who succeeded Sacco as "more talented," implying that the change was driven by merit rather than cost‑cutting. However, his remarks also hinted at an openness to AI, saying that in hindsight he would have been "happy to replace her with AI," a statement that many interpreted as an admission of willingness to prioritize technology over human labor.
The situation escalated when Sacco posted on BlueSky, a decentralized social platform, detailing her experience and emphasizing that she had consistently maintained the truth of her claims. She expressed a cautious optimism about Karch’s apology, acknowledging that she needed time to process the gesture and determine what restitution might look like. Her post resonated with other industry professionals who have voiced concerns about transparency, fair credit, and the potential for AI to marginalise creative talent. Karch’s subsequent LinkedIn post attempted to soften the narrative by admitting to an emotional reaction: "I got triggered by certain later comments and shot first and thought second." He framed his response as a human error, emphasizing his intent to make amends.
The apology, while public, left many questions unanswered: What specific AI tools were used? How much of the game’s narrative and dialogue were generated by machines?
Were any other staff members affected by similar replacements? In the broader context, Saber Interactive’s decision to add a disclaimer reflects a growing trend among developers to be more forthcoming about AI involvement.
Some studios have opted for full transparency, listing AI contributions in credits, while others have kept such details hidden, fearing backlash from players and creators alike. The gaming press has highlighted several recent cases where AI‑generated art or text led to legal disputes over copyright and attribution, prompting calls for industry‑wide standards.
For consumers, the presence of AI in a lower‑priced title like Rideshare Simulator could be seen as a cost‑saving measure that allows the studio to allocate resources elsewhere—perhaps improving gameplay mechanics, polishing graphics, or adding post‑launch support. Proponents argue that AI can accelerate development cycles, reduce repetitive writing tasks, and enable smaller teams to produce content that would otherwise be beyond their scope. Critics, however, warn that reliance on AI may dilute the authenticity of storytelling, erode the value of human creativity, and create a slippery slope where profit motives override artistic integrity.
Saber Interactive has indicated that the disclaimer will be updated once the final feature set of the game is locked down, suggesting that the AI components are still evolving. This ongoing development hints at a dynamic approach to integrating AI, where the studio may experiment with different levels of automation across gameplay, narrative branching, and even player‑feedback loops. The episode also underscores the importance of clear communication between studios and their staff.
When a writer feels replaced without proper acknowledgment, it can lead to public disputes that damage a company’s reputation. Transparent policies regarding AI usage, fair credit attribution, and respectful handling of personnel changes are becoming essential for maintaining trust within both the development community and the player base.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator represents a reactive measure to a controversy sparked by former writer Stella Sacco’s allegations. CEO Matt Karch’s public apology—framed as an emotional misstep—aims to mitigate the fallout, but it also opens a broader dialogue about how AI should be disclosed, credited, and ethically employed in game development. As the industry continues to grapple with these issues, the case serves as a cautionary tale for studios navigating the fine line between technological innovation and the preservation of human creative contributions.