Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam store page 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 that erupted when a former writer claimed the company had dismissed her from the project and substituted her work with content generated by AI tools. The controversy has drawn attention to the broader conversation about how studios are integrating machine‑learning technologies into creative pipelines, and it has prompted the company’s chief executive, Matt Karch, to publicly address the allegations and extend an apology to the writer involved.
The full text of the newly added AI 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." By placing this notice directly on the Steam page, Saber hopes to provide transparency for players who may be concerned about the authenticity of the game's narrative and dialogue. The backstory began when Stella Sacco, who served as a lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly claimed that she was taken off the project partway through its production cycle and that her responsibilities were handed over to an AI language model, specifically ChatGPT.
Sacco also suggested that additional, undisclosed AI tools had been employed in other aspects of the game's creation, raising questions about the extent to which human authorship had been supplanted by algorithmic assistance. In response, Matt Karch issued a statement that attempted to clarify the situation. He said that Sacco had "been replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added a somewhat ambiguous remark that "in retrospect [he] would have been happy to replace her with AI." This phrasing was interpreted by many observers as an admission that the company was indeed open to using AI as a substitute for human writers, if it had been deemed appropriate. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch further elaborated on his lack of personal interaction with Sacco.
He said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," referencing Claude, an AI assistant developed by Anthropic. Karch explained that the studio had already disclosed its intention to employ AI for certain components of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the final feature set was locked down. He framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, stating, "We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a plus for consumers." The dispute took another turn when Sacco posted on the social network 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 later added a separate public comment on LinkedIn, where he reflected on his own behavior. He admitted, "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." This acknowledgment of an impulsive reaction was intended to show accountability, though critics argued that the apology lacked concrete steps for restitution. The episode highlights several broader issues that are currently shaping the video game industry. First, the integration of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models is becoming increasingly common for generating dialogue, quest descriptions, and even entire story arcs. While these technologies can accelerate development and reduce costs, they also raise ethical concerns about authorship, compensation, and the preservation of creative voice.
When a writer is removed from a project and replaced by an algorithm, questions arise about the fairness of such a decision and whether the writer’s contractual rights have been respected. Second, the incident underscores the importance of clear communication with both internal staff and the public. By initially denying any direct interaction with Sacco and later issuing a disclaimer after public pressure, Saber Interactive demonstrated how a lack of transparency can quickly erode trust.
The company’s decision to place an explicit AI disclaimer on the Steam page can be seen as a corrective measure, but it also serves as a reminder that studios need proactive policies rather than reactive ones. Third, the situation reflects the growing expectation among gamers for disclosure about the role of AI in the products they purchase.
Many players value handcrafted narratives and may feel short‑changed if they discover that significant portions of a game’s story were generated by a machine. By labeling Rideshare Simulator as a "lower‑priced title" that benefits from AI, Saber appears to be positioning the technology as a cost‑saving measure, which could be interpreted either as a pragmatic business decision or as an attempt to justify reduced investment in human talent.
Looking forward, the industry will likely see more formal guidelines emerging around AI usage. Some developers are already establishing internal review boards to assess whether AI‑generated content meets quality standards and respects intellectual property rights.
Others are exploring hybrid approaches, where AI assists writers by producing drafts that are then refined by human creators, thereby preserving the artistic nuance while still leveraging the speed of machine generation. For Stella Sacco, the path to resolution remains uncertain.
While she has accepted Karch’s apology, she has not detailed what form restitution might take—whether it involves financial compensation, public acknowledgment of her contributions, or a commitment from Saber to involve her in future AI‑related policy discussions. The outcome of this particular dispute could set a precedent for how similar conflicts are handled in the future, especially as AI becomes a more entrenched component of game development pipelines.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page of Rideshare Simulator is a direct response to a controversy sparked by a former writer’s claims of being replaced by AI. CEO Matt Karch’s public statements and subsequent apology illustrate both the challenges and responsibilities that come with integrating emerging technologies into creative work. The incident serves as a case study for the broader industry, emphasizing the need for transparency, ethical considerations, and respectful treatment of human talent as the line between human‑crafted and AI‑generated content continues to blur.