Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its upcoming title, Rideshare Simulator, after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s Steam page, is intended to clarify the studio’s current and planned use of AI tools throughout the development process and to address the controversy that has surrounded the project. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent statements made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco.
Ms. Sacco was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024 and alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator team midway through production and substituted with output from ChatGPT. She also claims that additional, undisclosed AI technologies were employed during the game's creation. In response, Mr.
Karch has clarified that Ms. Sacco was replaced by an individual he describes 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 replacing her work with AI." The controversy began when Sacco posted on the social‑media platform BlueSky, detailing her experience at Saber Interactive. She wrote that she was hired as the lead writer for Rideshare Simulator, contributed significantly to the narrative design, and was abruptly removed from the project in early 2024.
According to her account, the studio then turned to ChatGPT—a large language model developed by OpenAI—to generate large portions of the game's in‑game text, marketing copy, and even some dialogue. Sacco’s allegations suggested that the decision to replace a human writer with an AI system was not disclosed to the public or to the development team, raising questions about transparency, labor practices, and the ethical use of generative AI in creative industries.
Matt Karch, the company's chief executive, responded publicly in a series of interviews and social‑media posts. In an interview with the podcast "This Week In Videogames," Karch said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," indicating that he had no recollection of working directly with Sacco.
He went on to explain that Saber Interactive has been experimenting with AI for specific, non‑core aspects of the game and that a formal update to the Steam page would be issued once the feature set was finalized. He framed the use of AI as a potential benefit for consumers, especially given that Rideshare Simulator is positioned as a lower‑priced title aimed at a broad audience. The CEO’s remarks sparked a wave of criticism from both industry observers and fans.
Critics argued that Karch’s dismissive tone and the suggestion that a human writer could be swapped out for a machine without notice undermined the value of creative labor. Others pointed out that the lack of clear communication about AI usage could violate Steam’s content disclosure policies, which require developers to be transparent about significant technological components that affect gameplay or user experience. In a follow‑up post on BlueSky over the weekend, Sacco 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 statement on LinkedIn, acknowledging his emotional reaction to the unfolding situation. He wrote, "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." This admission of impulsive behavior was seen by some as a step toward accountability, while others remained skeptical about the concrete actions the studio would take to address the underlying issues. The incident has ignited a broader conversation within the gaming community about the role of AI in content creation.
On one hand, developers argue that AI can accelerate production, reduce costs, and generate large volumes of text or assets that would otherwise require extensive human labor. On the other hand, writers, artists, and ethicists warn that over‑reliance on AI may erode the quality of storytelling, marginalize creative professionals, and create a slippery slope toward opaque development practices. In response to the backlash, Saber Interactive has pledged to be more transparent about its AI workflow.
The company announced that it will publish a detailed breakdown of which specific elements of Rideshare Simulator are being generated or assisted by AI, such as procedural city layouts, background signage, and certain non‑critical dialogue lines. They also said they would establish an internal review board to evaluate the ethical implications of AI use on a case‑by‑case basis, ensuring that any future AI integration respects both employee rights and consumer expectations.
Industry analysts note that this controversy could serve as a precedent for how other studios handle AI disclosures. Steam, for its part, has not yet issued an official statement, but the platform’s policy team is reportedly reviewing the situation to determine whether the current disclaimer satisfies their guidelines. If not, Saber Interactive may be required to further amend its store page or risk potential penalties.
Meanwhile, the gaming press continues to monitor the fallout. Several outlets have published op‑eds discussing the balance between technological innovation and human talent, citing the Saber case as a cautionary tale.
Some have called for the formation of an industry‑wide standard for AI disclosure, similar to existing guidelines for loot boxes and microtransactions. For players awaiting Rideshare Simulator, the immediate impact is mixed. Those who were excited about the game’s promise of a realistic rideshare experience now face uncertainty about the final product’s narrative depth.
Others are curious to see how AI‑generated content will affect the gameplay, potentially offering a novel experience that blends human design with machine‑assisted creativity. In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page reflects an attempt to address mounting criticism after former writer Stella Sacco alleged she was replaced by ChatGPT. CEO Matt Karch’s public apology and acknowledgment of his impulsive reaction have opened a dialogue about transparency, ethical AI use, and the future of creative labor in video game development.
The studio’s forthcoming detailed disclosures and the industry’s response will likely shape how AI is integrated into games moving forward, ensuring that both developers and players have a clear understanding of the technology’s role in shaping interactive experiences.