Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a formal AI usage disclaimer. The move comes after a heated debate erupted concerning claims that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project and substituted her contributions with text generated by artificial intelligence tools. The full wording of the new notice reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber CEO Matt Karch about former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024.
Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare development team midway through production and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications during the game's creation." In the wake of these allegations, Karch publicly responded, asserting that Sacco "was replaced by a more capable individual and subsequently terminated for a range of reasons a few months later." He further added, "Looking back, I would have been comfortable swapping her out for an AI solution." During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch elaborated, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or even seen her in person. We have already confirmed that we are employing AI for certain elements of the game and will revise the Steam page once the feature list is finalized." He continued, "We view our use of AI in this particular title—a lower‑priced offering—as a benefit for consumers, providing cost‑effective content without sacrificing quality." The controversy took another turn when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, stating 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; the facts have now been corroborated. Matt expressed a desire to make things right with me.
At this point I’m not entirely sure what that will look like, and I need some time to process it, but I do accept his apology." Karch also issued a separate public 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 admitted.
"It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify the situation." The incident highlights a broader industry conversation about the role of AI in game development. As tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models become more sophisticated, studios are increasingly turning to them for tasks ranging from dialogue writing to procedural content generation.
Proponents argue that AI can accelerate production timelines, reduce costs, and enable smaller teams to produce richer experiences. Critics, however, warn that reliance on automated text generation may undermine creative integrity, lead to job displacement, and raise ethical concerns about transparency. In Saber Interactive's case, the company appears to be positioning AI as a value‑add for a budget‑friendly title, suggesting that the technology will help keep the retail price low while still delivering an engaging simulation. The disclaimer on the Steam page is intended to inform potential buyers that portions of the game's narrative and possibly other assets were created with the assistance of AI.
This level of transparency is still relatively rare in the industry, where many developers either downplay or completely omit mention of AI contributions. The timeline of events is also noteworthy. Sacco's tenure at Saber spanned exactly one year, from July 2023 to July 2024.
Her claim that she was removed halfway through development implies that the decision to replace her with AI occurred sometime in early 2024, a period when many studios were experimenting with AI pilots. Karch's initial defense—that a more talented individual took over her role—was later softened by his admission that, in hindsight, an AI solution would have been acceptable.
This shift suggests internal debate within the company about the balance between human authorship and machine‑generated content. From a legal perspective, the situation raises questions about employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and the attribution of creative work.
If a writer's contributions are partially or wholly supplanted by AI, it may affect royalty calculations, credit listings, and even the moral rights of the original author. While no lawsuits have been filed as of this writing, the scenario could set a precedent for future disputes in the gaming sector. The public reaction has been mixed. Some members of the gaming community have expressed support for Sacco, praising her for speaking out against what they perceive as an unfair dismissal and a lack of transparency.
Others have defended Saber Interactive, arguing that AI tools are simply another resource in a developer's toolbox and that the company is being forthcoming by adding the disclaimer. Industry analysts are watching closely to see whether this controversy will prompt other studios to adopt similar disclosure practices. The trend toward AI integration is accelerating, and regulators in several jurisdictions are beginning to consider guidelines for labeling AI‑generated content. Should formal standards emerge, companies like Saber Interactive may need to adopt more comprehensive labeling strategies, potentially including detailed breakdowns of which assets were AI‑assisted and which were crafted by human creators.
In summary, Saber Interactive's decision to place an AI usage notice on the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects both a response to a specific personnel dispute and a broader acknowledgment of the growing role of artificial intelligence in game development. CEO Matt Karch's public apology to former writer Stella Sacco underscores the human element behind these technological shifts, reminding the industry that behind every AI‑generated line of dialogue or piece of code is a team of people navigating new ethical and professional terrain. The episode serves as a case study in how studios might balance innovation, transparency, and respect for creative talent as AI continues to reshape the creative process.