Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal AI usage disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of controversy erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of employing AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s page, is intended to clarify the studio’s approach to artificial‑intelligence tools and to address the allegations that have been circulating online. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024. Ms.
Sacco has stated that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through its development cycle and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI applications used during the creation of the game. In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms.
Sacco was replaced by an individual he described as 'more talented' and that her contract was terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later. He 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 aspects of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalized the feature set." "We view our use of AI in this particular title—a lower‑priced offering—as a benefit for consumers." The statement also references a recent post made by Ms.
Sacco on the social platform BlueSky, where she wrote that Mr. 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." In a separate public comment posted on LinkedIn, Karch attempted to explain his reaction, 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 controversy began when Ms. Sacco, who served as the lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly disclosed that she was removed from the project after roughly a year of service.
According to her account, the studio opted to replace her writing duties with outputs generated by ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. She also alleged that the development team employed additional AI tools in other areas of the game's production, though those specific tools were not identified in her initial statements. Sacco's claims quickly gained traction within the gaming community, sparking a broader debate about the ethical implications of using AI to replace human creatives. Many industry observers expressed concern that relying on AI for narrative design could diminish the quality of storytelling and undermine the livelihoods of professional writers.
Others argued that AI could serve as a useful supplement, enabling developers to iterate faster and reduce costs, especially on lower‑budget titles. Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, responded to the allegations in a series of interviews and social media posts. In his initial remarks, he suggested that Sacco's departure was due to performance issues and that the decision to bring in a new writer—whom he described as more skilled—was made independently of any AI considerations. However, he later admitted that, in hindsight, he might have been open to employing AI as a replacement, a comment that only intensified the backlash.
The CEO's subsequent apology on BlueSky and LinkedIn was framed as an acknowledgment of his impulsive reaction to criticism. He explained that he felt provoked by subsequent comments from unnamed sources, leading him to respond defensively before fully considering his words. By describing himself as "human" and expressing a desire to make amends, Karch appeared to be attempting to soften the perception of his earlier statements. From a legal perspective, the situation raises questions about employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and the transparency required when AI is used in creative processes.
If a writer's work is supplanted by AI, the ownership of the resulting text may become ambiguous, especially if the AI model was trained on proprietary or copyrighted material. Moreover, labor laws in various jurisdictions may require employers to disclose significant changes to job responsibilities, particularly when those changes involve the substitution of human labor with automated systems. Saber Interactive's decision to place an explicit AI disclaimer on the Steam page can be seen as a proactive measure to comply with emerging industry standards and consumer expectations. By openly stating which aspects of the game involve AI, the studio hopes to mitigate accusations of deception and to provide players with a clearer picture of the development methodology behind the final product.
The broader gaming industry is currently grappling with how to integrate AI responsibly. Some studios have announced internal guidelines that limit AI usage to non‑creative tasks such as bug detection, asset optimization, or procedural generation of environments. Others have experimented with AI‑assisted narrative tools, allowing writers to generate draft dialogue that can then be refined by human editors. The debate continues over where the line should be drawn between assistance and replacement.
In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the controversy may also affect the game's reception. Consumers who value handcrafted storytelling might be wary of a title that relies heavily on machine‑generated content, while price‑sensitive players could appreciate the lower cost that AI integration potentially enables. The ultimate impact on sales will likely depend on how effectively Saber can communicate the benefits of its AI approach without alienating its audience.
As the discussion evolves, both Saber Interactive and other developers will be watching closely to see how regulators, unions, and player communities respond to the growing presence of AI in game development. The outcome could shape policies on disclosure, compensation, and the ethical use of generative technologies across the entertainment sector.
For now, Saber Interactive has taken the concrete step of updating its Steam listing, and Matt Karch has publicly apologized to Stella Sacco, acknowledging his premature reaction. Whether these actions will restore trust among fans and industry peers remains to be seen, but they mark an important moment in the ongoing conversation about AI's role in creative work.