Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its upcoming title, Rideshare Simulator, after a wave of controversy erupted surrounding claims that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of using AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game's storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current and planned use of AI tools within the project, and to address the concerns raised by former employee Stella Sacco and members of the gaming community. 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 alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator development team midway through production and that her responsibilities were subsequently taken over by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI applications used during 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 announced that we are employing AI for certain aspects 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, lower‑priced title as a benefit for consumers." In a separate post on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, Sacco 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 also made 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 Sacco, who served as the lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly claimed that midway through development the studio had removed her from the project and replaced her contributions with output generated by ChatGPT, a popular large‑language model. She further alleged that other, as‑yet‑unannounced AI tools had been employed throughout the game's production pipeline, raising questions about authorship, compensation, and the ethical use of AI in creative industries. Sacco's statements quickly spread across industry forums, social media, and gaming news outlets, prompting a broader discussion about the role of AI in video game development. Many developers and writers expressed concern that reliance on AI could undermine the value of human creativity, lead to job displacement, and blur the lines of intellectual property ownership.
Others argued that AI, when used responsibly, could serve as a powerful assistant for tasks such as localization, procedural content generation, and iterative writing, potentially reducing costs and speeding up production timelines. In his initial response, CEO Matt Karch defended the studio's decision, claiming that Sacco had been replaced by a more qualified individual and that her termination was due to a range of performance‑related factors. He also hinted that, retrospectively, he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI, a comment that many interpreted as an admission that the studio was at least considering, if not already employing, AI‑generated content. The remark, "Stella who?
I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," further inflamed the situation. Karch's reference to Claude—a reference to an AI model—was taken by observers as a sarcastic dismissal of Sacco's claims, suggesting that the CEO had not directly interacted with the writer in question. This perception contributed to a growing narrative that the company's leadership was either out of touch with its staff or deliberately downplaying the seriousness of the allegations.
Following the backlash, Sacco posted an update on BlueSky, indicating that Karch had offered an unconditional apology for the manner in which he addressed her publicly. She emphasized that she had stood by her account from the start and that she now accepted his apology, though she remained uncertain about what concrete steps would be taken to "make it right." Her statement highlighted the emotional toll such disputes can have on individuals and underscored the importance of transparent communication between employers and creative talent. Karch's LinkedIn post added another layer to the narrative. By acknowledging that he had been "triggered" by later comments and that he had "shot first and thought second," he framed his reaction as a human error rather than a calculated corporate strategy.
He expressed a desire to rectify the situation, though he offered no specific details about corrective measures beyond the added disclaimer on Steam. The addition of the AI disclaimer on the Steam page marks a tangible response from Saber Interactive.
The notice signals to potential buyers that the studio is openly acknowledging the use of AI in the game's development and that it intends to keep the community informed as the feature set is finalized. This move aligns with a growing trend among game developers to be more transparent about AI integration, especially as regulators and consumer advocacy groups begin to scrutinize the technology's impact on employment and creative integrity. Industry analysts note that this episode could serve as a case study for how studios navigate the delicate balance between leveraging cutting‑edge AI tools and maintaining trust with both their workforce and their audience. The situation underscores the need for clear policies regarding AI usage, proper attribution, and fair compensation for human contributors whose work may be supplemented or replaced by machine‑generated content.
In the broader context, the Rideshare Simulator controversy reflects ongoing debates about the future of narrative design in video games. As AI language models become increasingly sophisticated, they offer the promise of rapid content generation, dynamic storytelling, and personalized player experiences. However, they also raise questions about authenticity, artistic voice, and the value of human storytelling craft.
For now, Saber Interactive appears to be taking steps to mitigate the fallout: the public apology, the clarification of AI usage, and the promise to update the Steam page once the final feature list is locked down. Whether these actions will restore confidence among fans, writers, and industry peers remains to be seen, but the episode has already sparked a vital conversation about the ethical and practical implications of AI in game development. As the gaming community continues to monitor the situation, both developers and players will likely watch closely to see how Saber Interactive implements its AI disclaimer, whether any further statements or policy changes emerge, and how the studio ultimately resolves its relationship with Stella Sacco. The outcome may set a precedent for how other studios handle similar disputes, shaping the evolving landscape of AI‑assisted creativity in interactive entertainment.