Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The controversy centers on the departure of former staff member Stella Sacco, who worked on the project from July 2023 until July 2024, and the subsequent statements made by the studio’s chief executive, Matt Karch, regarding her exit and the role of AI in the game's development. The new notice, posted directly on the Steam page, reads in full: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch concerning writer Stella Sacco, who was employed at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024.
Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through development and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed uses of AI throughout the creation of the game." In a public response, Karch attempted to clarify the situation. He said that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added a somewhat ambiguous remark that "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." The CEO’s comments suggested a willingness to lean on machine‑generated content, especially for a lower‑priced title such as Rideshare Simulator, which the company frames as a consumer‑friendly move. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch further downplayed his familiarity with Sacco, stating, "Stella who?
I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He went on to confirm that the studio was indeed employing AI for certain aspects of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalised. "We view our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a plus for consumers," he said, positioning the technology as a benefit rather than a controversy. The dispute took a more personal turn when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, 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, for his part, issued a separate statement on LinkedIn in which he admitted to an 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 wrote. "It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." The incident raises broader questions about the evolving role of AI in video‑game development, particularly in narrative and writing tasks that have traditionally been the domain of human creatives. While AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and others can accelerate content generation, many industry observers warn that reliance on these systems may lead to a dilution of authentic voice, reduced job security for writers, and ethical concerns around attribution and transparency. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the game's positioning as an affordable, niche simulation may have encouraged Saber Interactive to experiment with cost‑saving measures, but the backlash illustrates the delicate balance studios must strike when integrating AI. The company's decision to publicly label the AI involvement on Steam is a rare instance of transparency, yet the initial denial and subsequent apology suggest internal miscommunication and perhaps a lack of clear policy on how and when AI should replace human labor.
From a legal perspective, the use of AI‑generated text can also intersect with copyright law, especially when the output is derived from large datasets that include copyrighted material. Though no lawsuit has been filed in this particular case, the situation mirrors other high‑profile disputes in the entertainment sector where writers' unions and advocacy groups have called for clearer guidelines and protections. For aspiring writers and developers, the episode serves as a cautionary tale. It underscores the importance of documenting employment terms, maintaining open channels of communication, and establishing explicit agreements about the use of AI in collaborative projects.
It also highlights the need for studios to develop robust internal policies that address AI usage, ensure fair treatment of staff, and provide mechanisms for dispute resolution. Meanwhile, consumers who follow the development of Rideshare Simulator are left to wonder how much of the final product will be crafted by human hands versus algorithms. The disclaimer on Steam now informs potential buyers that parts of the game may have been produced with the assistance of AI, a factor that could influence purchasing decisions for those who value handcrafted storytelling. In summary, Saber Interactive's addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page, coupled with CEO Matt Karch's public apology to former writer Stella Sacco, reflects a growing tension in the gaming industry between technological efficiency and human creativity.
As AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible, studios will need to navigate these waters carefully, balancing cost savings with ethical considerations and maintaining trust with both their workforce and their audience.