Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its upcoming title, Rideshare Simulator, after a wave of controversy surrounding claims that the studio had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, now visible on the game’s Steam page, seeks to clarify the company’s stance on AI usage and to address the allegations that have been circulating online.
The full disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the company from July 2023 until July 2024. According to Sacco, she was removed from the Rideshare project part‑way through development and her responsibilities were subsequently handed over to ChatGPT. She also alleged that additional, undisclosed AI tools were 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 I would have been happy to replace her with AI."" The disclaimer continues with Karch’s own words from a recent interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames: "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," he said, referencing the AI model Claude. "We have already announced that we are using AI for certain components of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalized the feature set." He further explained the studio’s philosophy, stating, "We view our use of AI in this particular title—a lower‑priced offering—as a benefit for consumers, providing added value and potentially lowering costs." The situation escalated over the weekend when Sacco posted a message on the social platform BlueSky, noting that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She wrote, "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 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 controversy touches on broader industry concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in creative processes. Over the past few years, many game developers have experimented with AI tools for everything from procedural level design to narrative generation.
Proponents argue that AI can accelerate production, reduce costs, and enable smaller studios to compete with larger publishers. Critics, however, warn that reliance on AI may diminish the value of human creativity, lead to job displacement, and raise ethical questions about authorship and transparency. In Saber Interactive’s case, the core of the dispute revolves around the alleged replacement of a human writer—Stella Sacco—with a language model. Sacco’s tenure at the company spanned a full year, during which she contributed to the narrative framework of Rideshare Simulator.
According to her statements, she was removed from the project midway and her duties were handed over to ChatGPT, an AI system known for generating text based on prompts. She also suggested that other, as‑yet‑undisclosed AI technologies were employed in the game's development pipeline. From the CEO’s perspective, the decision to incorporate AI was framed as a strategic move to enhance the final product while keeping the price point low for consumers.
Karch’s comment that he would have been “happy to replace her with AI” in hindsight indicates an openness to leveraging machine‑generated content, though it also raises questions about the criteria used to evaluate talent and the transparency of internal staffing decisions. The public apology posted by Karch on LinkedIn appears to be an attempt to mitigate the reputational damage caused by his earlier remarks.
By acknowledging that he acted impulsively—"shot first and thought second"—he signals a willingness to reflect on his communication style. However, the apology stops short of providing concrete steps for restitution, such as reinstating Sacco, offering compensation, or outlining a revised policy on AI usage. Industry observers note that this incident could serve as a cautionary tale for other studios navigating the integration of AI tools.
Clear policies, open communication with staff, and explicit disclosures to the public are increasingly seen as essential practices. Failure to do so can lead to mistrust among employees, backlash from the gaming community, and potential legal challenges related to labor rights and intellectual property. For gamers and consumers, the key takeaway is that the upcoming Rideshare Simulator may contain AI‑generated elements, ranging from dialogue snippets to procedural scenarios. While the developer frames this as a consumer benefit—potentially offering richer content at a lower price—players who value handcrafted storytelling may approach the game with a more critical eye.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page reflects an effort to address mounting concerns after accusations that a human writer was supplanted by an AI system. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologized for his earlier comments and admitted to a reactive response driven by emotion. The episode underscores the need for transparent AI policies within the gaming industry and highlights the delicate balance between technological innovation and the preservation of human creative contributions.