Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam listing for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a clear disclaimer about the use of artificial intelligence in the game's development. The move comes after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the studio had dismissed a writer working on the project and substituted her contributions with text generated by AI tools. The full disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who worked at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024, and stated she was removed from Rideshare midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT, while alleging other then-unannounced use of AI in the game's development." In the wake of those statements, Karch addressed the controversy publicly. He said that Sacco "was replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added a candid reflection: "In retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch appeared bemused by the name of his former colleague.
"Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," he remarked, referring to the AI model Claude. He went on to explain that the studio had already disclosed that it was employing artificial intelligence for certain aspects of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalised.
"We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a plus for consumers," he said, framing the technology as a benefit rather than a controversy. The dispute took another turn over the weekend when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky, 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, 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 raises broader questions about the role of AI in creative industries, especially video game development. On one hand, developers argue that AI can streamline repetitive tasks such as generating placeholder text, crafting procedural dialogue, or assisting with localization. On the other hand, critics worry that reliance on AI could marginalise human writers, diminish the quality of narrative depth, and create ethical dilemmas around attribution and compensation.
In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the core gameplay revolves around managing a ridesharing business, balancing driver schedules, pricing strategies, and customer satisfaction. The narrative elements—tutorials, in‑game notifications, and occasional flavor text—are relatively lightweight compared to story‑driven titles, which may explain why Saber chose to experiment with AI‑generated copy.
Nonetheless, the decision to replace a human writer mid‑project sparked concerns among industry observers who see the move as a potential precedent. Industry analysts note that AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and others have become increasingly sophisticated, capable of producing coherent prose, code snippets, and even design documents.
Some studios have begun integrating these tools into their pipelines to accelerate prototyping, generate quest outlines, or draft marketing copy. However, the technology is not without limitations; AI can produce factual inaccuracies, repeat biases present in its training data, and lack the nuanced understanding of a seasoned writer who can tailor tone to a specific audience.
Saber Interactive's CEO, Matt Karch, appears to be navigating a delicate balance. By publicly acknowledging the use of AI and adding a disclaimer, he aims to maintain transparency with the player community. At the same time, his personal apology to Sacco suggests an attempt to mend a professional relationship that was strained by the public fallout.
Whether this apology will translate into concrete actions—such as reinstating Sacco, offering compensation, or establishing clearer AI usage policies—remains to be seen. The incident also highlights the importance of clear internal communication within development teams.
When a writer is removed from a project, especially one that involves public-facing content, the reasons and processes should be documented and communicated to avoid speculation. In this scenario, the lack of initial clarity allowed rumors to spread, prompting external scrutiny and forcing the company to react defensively. From a consumer perspective, the addition of an AI disclaimer may influence purchasing decisions. Players who value handcrafted narrative elements might be wary of a title that leans on machine‑generated text, while others may appreciate the lower price point that could result from reduced labor costs.
The disclaimer serves as a signal that the studio is not trying to hide its methods, which could foster trust among a segment of the audience that values transparency. Looking ahead, the gaming industry is likely to see more explicit policies regarding AI usage. Some publishers are already drafting guidelines that require disclosure when AI contributes significantly to a game's content.
Regulatory bodies may also step in to ensure that creators receive proper credit and that consumers are informed about the nature of the content they are engaging with. In summary, Saber Interactive's decision to place an AI disclaimer on the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects a growing trend of integrating artificial intelligence into game development while grappling with the ethical and professional ramifications of such integration. CEO Matt Karch's public apology to former writer Stella Sacco underscores the human element behind these technological shifts, reminding the industry that behind every line of code or generated sentence there are real people whose careers and reputations are at stake.
The episode serves as a case study for how studios might balance efficiency gains from AI with the need for transparency, fair treatment of creative staff, and maintaining the trust of their player base.