Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an 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 AI‑generated text. The notice, now visible to prospective buyers, is meant to clarify the studio’s current stance on the use of machine‑learning tools in the game’s development and to address the accusations that were circulating on social media and gaming forums. The full wording of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the studio from July 2023 until July 2024. Sacco has alleged that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through production and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications within the game’s creation process.
In response, Mr. Karch has stated that Ms.
Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and further added that "in hindsight I would have been comfortable replacing her with AI."" The CEO’s comments continued with a somewhat bewildered tone: "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," Karch told the podcast This Week In Videogames.
"We have already announced that we are employing AI for certain components of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalized the feature set." He went on to argue that the integration of AI in this particular title, which is positioned as a lower‑priced offering, should be viewed as a benefit for consumers: "We see our use of AI in this game as a plus for the player base, delivering more content at a reduced cost." The dispute took a more personal turn when Sacco posted on the social 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 have 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 issued a separate public statement on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction to the unfolding drama. "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 controversy touches on several broader industry trends.
Over the past few years, game developers have increasingly experimented with AI tools such as language models, procedural generation systems, and image‑synthesis algorithms to accelerate production pipelines, reduce costs, and generate large volumes of dialogue or quest text. Proponents argue that these technologies can free human creators from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on higher‑level design, storytelling, and artistic direction.
Critics, however, warn that reliance on AI may lead to a dilution of narrative quality, ethical concerns around authorship, and potential job displacement for writers, artists, and other creative professionals. In Saber Interactive’s case, the core of the grievance centers on the alleged replacement of a human writer—Stella Sacco—with an AI system, specifically ChatGPT, during a critical phase of development. Sacco’s tenure at the studio spanned a full year, during which she contributed to the narrative framework and in‑game dialogue for Rideshare Simulator.
According to her statements, she was removed from the project without clear justification, and her duties were handed over to a language model that could produce text at scale but lacked the nuanced understanding of the game's tone and player experience. The CEO’s response, which oscillated between denial, partial admission, and a vague promise to update the Steam page, left many observers questioning the transparency of Saber’s internal processes. The phrase "replaced by someone more talented" sparked particular ire, as it seemed to diminish the value of Sacco’s contributions while simultaneously hinting at a willingness to substitute human talent with algorithmic output.
From a legal perspective, the situation also raises questions about employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and the disclosure obligations that studios may have toward consumers. While there is currently no universal regulatory framework mandating that developers disclose AI usage in video games, consumer advocacy groups have begun to call for clearer labeling, arguing that players have a right to know whether the narrative content they are engaging with was authored by a person or generated by a machine. The public apology posted by Karch on LinkedIn attempts to mitigate the damage to the studio’s reputation.
By acknowledging his impulsive reaction—"shot first and thought second"—he frames the incident as a human error rather than a calculated corporate strategy. Nevertheless, the apology does not directly address the core accusation that a qualified writer was supplanted by an AI system, nor does it outline concrete steps the company will take to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Industry analysts suggest that this episode could serve as a cautionary tale for other developers navigating the delicate balance between leveraging AI efficiencies and maintaining ethical labor practices. Transparency, clear communication with both staff and the gaming community, and the establishment of internal guidelines for AI deployment are likely to become increasingly important as the technology matures.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to add an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects an attempt to address mounting scrutiny over its alleged substitution of a human writer with ChatGPT. CEO Matt Karch’s public statements and subsequent apology illustrate the challenges companies face when integrating emerging technologies into creative workflows while managing the expectations of employees, players, and the broader public. The incident underscores the need for ongoing dialogue about the role of artificial intelligence in game development, the rights of creative workers, and the importance of honest disclosure to consumers.