Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its upcoming title, Rideshare Simulator, after a wave of criticism erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of machine‑generated text. The controversy centers on allegations that a writer who contributed to the game was removed mid‑development and that portions of the game's narrative and marketing copy were subsequently produced by ChatGPT and other AI tools without proper acknowledgment. The full text of the newly posted 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 the studio from July 2023 until July 2024. Ms.
Sacco has publicly asserted that she was taken off the Rideshare Simulator project partway through its creation and that her responsibilities were filled by the language model ChatGPT. She also claims that additional, still‑unreleased AI‑generated content was incorporated throughout the game's development." In his public response, Karch attempted to clarify the situation.
He said that Sacco was "replaced by someone we deemed more skilled for the role and that her contract was terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later." He added, somewhat controversially, that "in hindsight I would have been comfortable replacing her work with AI if the circumstances called for it." During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch further distanced himself from the former writer, stating, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude—my AI assistant—because I have never spoken to her or even seen her in person." He continued, "We have already disclosed that we are employing AI for certain aspects of the game and will update the Steam page once we finalize the exact feature set." Karch framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, noting, "We view our AI integration in this particular, lower‑priced title as a value‑add for players." The dispute took another turn over the weekend when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky, indicating that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the terrible way he spoke about me in the press." She wrote, "From the beginning I have stood firm that my account was truthful; it now appears that the facts have been corroborated.
Matt expressed a desire to make things right with me. At this point I’m not sure what that looks like, and I’ll need some time to consider it, but I do accept his apology." Karch also issued a separate statement on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction. He confessed, "I unfortunately got triggered by certain later comments—reasons I won’t go into—and I shot first and thought second about how to respond. It happens; I am only human.
I have done what I can to rectify the situation." The episode highlights several broader industry trends. First, the increasing reliance on AI for content creation has sparked debate over transparency and ethical practice. While AI can accelerate writing, localization, and even level design, many developers and players argue that proper credit and disclosure are essential to maintain trust. Second, the incident underscores the delicate nature of employee‑relations in a fast‑moving tech environment, where contracts can be short‑term and project staffing fluid.
The rapid turnover of a writer after only a year of service, coupled with the public nature of the dispute, raises questions about how studios manage talent and communication. From a legal perspective, the use of AI‑generated text may implicate copyright considerations, especially if the model was trained on copyrighted material without explicit permission. Although the current legal framework is still evolving, companies are advised to keep clear records of AI usage and to obtain necessary licenses where applicable. For consumers, the AI disclaimer serves as a signal that some portions of the game’s narrative, dialogue, or marketing copy may not be the product of a human author.
This could affect expectations around story depth, character nuance, and overall immersion. Some players may welcome the efficiency gains and potential cost savings that AI can bring, while others may worry about a loss of authentic, human‑crafted storytelling.
Industry observers also note that the public apology from a CEO is relatively rare in the gaming world, where many disputes are handled behind closed doors. Karch’s admission that he reacted impulsively and his willingness to publicly acknowledge a mistake could be seen as a step toward greater accountability. However, critics argue that the apology may be insufficient without concrete actions—such as reinstating the writer, offering compensation, or providing a clear roadmap for how AI will be used in future projects. In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects both a response to community backlash and an attempt to be transparent about the role of artificial intelligence in the game’s development.
The controversy surrounding former writer Stella Sacco, the CEO’s candid—if somewhat defensive—remarks, and the subsequent public apology illustrate the growing pains of an industry navigating the intersection of human creativity and machine assistance. As AI tools become more sophisticated and more widely adopted, similar disputes are likely to arise, prompting studios to develop clearer policies, better communication strategies, and perhaps new standards for crediting both human and artificial contributors.