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 wave of criticism erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI usage and to address the allegations that had been circulating in the gaming press and on social media. The full wording of the new disclaimer reads as follows: "This update reflects recent statements from Saber Interactive’s chief executive, Matt Karch, concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the studio from July 2023 until July 2024. According to Ms.
Sacco, she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator project midway through development and her responsibilities were taken over by a language model (ChatGPT). She also alleged that additional, undisclosed AI tools were employed in other aspects of 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 she was terminated a few months later for a range of reasons.
He further added that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI. "Stella who?
I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," Mr. Karch told the podcast This Week In Videogames. "We have already announced that we are using AI for certain parts of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalized the feature set." "We view our use of AI in this lower‑priced title as a benefit to consumers." In a separate post on the BlueSky platform over the weekend, Ms. Sacco wrote that Mr.
Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She continued, "I have stood firm from the beginning that my account was truthful; I think we can all now agree that it has 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 public comment on LinkedIn, stating, "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 the situation." The controversy began when former writer Stella Sacco, who contributed narrative and dialogue work to the early phases of Rideshare Simulator, publicly alleged that she was removed from the project and that her duties were handed over to ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. Sacco’s claims suggested that Saber Interactive had not only replaced a human writer with an algorithm but had also employed AI in other, undisclosed parts of the development pipeline, raising ethical questions about transparency, authorship, and the treatment of creative staff.
In the weeks that followed, the gaming community reacted strongly. Many developers and journalists expressed concern that AI could be used to sideline human talent, especially in narrative‑driven games where storytelling is a core component. Others pointed out that AI tools, when used responsibly, can accelerate certain tasks such as localization, procedural content generation, or even drafting initial script outlines. The debate quickly expanded beyond Saber Interactive, touching on broader industry trends toward automation and the need for clear policies governing AI usage.
Matt Karch’s response attempted to clarify the timeline. He confirmed that Sacco was hired in July 2023 and left the company in July 2024, noting that her departure coincided with a restructuring of the writing team. According to Karch, a new writer—described as “more talented”—was brought on board, and Sacco’s contract was terminated for multiple reasons that were not publicly disclosed. He also admitted that, looking back, he would have been open to employing AI tools to replace her work, a statement that many interpreted as an acknowledgment of the growing role AI can play in game development.
Karch’s remarks about never having met Sacco—"I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her"—added another layer of intrigue. Claude, another AI conversational model, was referenced humorously, suggesting that Karch may have relied on AI to retrieve information about a former employee he claimed never interacted with directly.
This anecdote sparked further discussion about the reliability of AI‑generated facts, especially when used in public statements. The BlueSky post from Sacco indicated that she had received an apology from Karch, though the specifics of any restitution or corrective action remain vague. She expressed a willingness to accept the apology but also emphasized that she needed time to process the situation.
Her statement underscores the personal impact such disputes can have on individual creators, beyond the abstract industry‑wide implications. On LinkedIn, Karch’s admission that he was "triggered" by later comments and that he "shot first and thought second" paints a picture of a reactive, emotionally charged response rather than a measured corporate communication strategy. By framing his misstep as a human error, he appears to be seeking empathy, while also promising to take steps to make amends.
In the wake of these events, Saber Interactive updated the Steam store page to include a clear AI disclaimer. The notice informs potential buyers that certain elements of Rideshare Simulator—such as dialogue generation, procedural mission design, or in‑game text—may have been assisted or fully generated by artificial‑intelligence systems. The company also pledged to revise the disclaimer once the final feature set is locked, indicating an ongoing evaluation of AI’s role in the title. Industry observers note that this move could set a precedent for how developers disclose AI involvement in their products.
Transparency about AI usage may become a selling point for some consumers who appreciate the efficiency gains, while others may prefer games crafted entirely by human hands. The balance between these preferences will likely shape future policy discussions within platforms like Steam, as well as within professional guilds and unions representing writers and artists.
Overall, the Saber Interactive episode highlights the growing pains of integrating AI into creative workflows. It raises questions about employment practices, the ethics of replacing human labor with algorithms, and the responsibility of studios to communicate openly with their audience. As AI technology continues to mature, the gaming industry will need to develop robust guidelines that protect both creators and consumers while harnessing the potential benefits of automation.
The added disclaimer on Rideshare Simulator’s Steam page marks a step toward that transparency, even as the broader conversation about AI’s place in game development remains far from settled.