Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of controversy erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of machine‑generated text. The notice, now visible to anyone browsing the game’s storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI usage and to address the public outcry that followed allegations of unfair employment practices.
The full wording of the new disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 to July 2024. Sacco has stated that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through development and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT. She also alleges additional, previously undisclosed uses of AI throughout 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 role with AI technology." The controversy began when former lead writer Stella Sacco publicly claimed that she had been let go from the Rideshare Simulator project after only a year of service and that the vacancy was filled by an AI language model, specifically ChatGPT. Sacco’s accusations did not stop at her own replacement; she also suggested that other aspects of the game’s development had relied on artificial‑intelligence tools that had not been disclosed to the team or to the public. Her statements quickly spread across social media and gaming forums, prompting a heated debate about the ethics of AI in creative industries and the treatment of human creators. Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, responded to the allegations in a series of interviews and social‑media posts.
In an interview with the YouTube channel This Week In Videogames, Karch said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He went on to explain that the studio had already been transparent about employing AI for certain components of the game and that an updated Steam page would be posted once the final feature set was locked down.
Karch framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, noting that Rideshare Simulator is positioned as a lower‑priced title and that integrating AI could help keep costs down while delivering a polished experience. The situation took another turn when Sacco posted on the social‑networking platform BlueSky over the weekend, stating 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 also issued a separate public statement on LinkedIn, in which he admitted that his reaction to the controversy was driven by emotion rather than careful deliberation. "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 addition of the AI disclaimer to the Steam page is a concrete step that reflects the broader industry conversation about transparency. As AI tools become more capable, developers are faced with a choice: either openly disclose the role of these systems in their pipelines or risk backlash for perceived secrecy.
In Saber’s case, the disclaimer serves to inform potential buyers that some narrative or design elements may have been generated or assisted by artificial intelligence, aligning the studio with emerging best practices for ethical AI disclosure. Beyond the immediate dispute, the episode highlights several key issues that are reshaping game development. First, the question of employment security for writers, artists, and designers when AI can produce comparable content at a fraction of the cost.
Second, the legal and moral obligations to credit AI contributions, especially when they replace human labor. Third, the consumer perspective: players may appreciate lower prices and faster updates, but they also value authenticity and the human touch that traditionally defines storytelling in games. Industry observers note that Saber Interactive is not alone in grappling with these challenges. Major studios such as Ubisoft, EA, and Activision have all experimented with AI for tasks ranging from procedural level generation to voice‑over synthesis.
Some have issued their own disclosures, while others remain silent, leading to a patchwork of policies that can confuse both creators and audiences. In the wake of the controversy, several advocacy groups for game writers have called for clearer standards. They argue that if a writer’s role is to be partially or fully automated, the studio should provide advance notice, severance packages, and opportunities for retraining. Others suggest that AI should be used as a collaborative tool rather than a wholesale replacement, allowing human writers to focus on higher‑level narrative decisions while the AI handles repetitive or data‑driven tasks.
For Saber Interactive, the path forward will likely involve balancing cost efficiencies with the reputational risk of appearing to sideline human talent. The CEO’s public apology and the newly posted disclaimer may help to mitigate some of the damage, but the long‑term impact on the studio’s relationship with its creative staff and its fan base remains uncertain. In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to append an AI disclaimer to the Steam listing for Rideshare Simulator reflects a growing demand for transparency in how artificial intelligence is employed within game development.
The controversy surrounding former writer Stella Sacco’s departure, the subsequent statements from CEO Matt Karch, and the broader industry debate over AI ethics all converge to illustrate the complex, evolving landscape that developers must navigate. As the conversation continues, both studios and creators will need to find sustainable ways to integrate AI while preserving the integrity and value of human creativity.