Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its upcoming 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 move follows a series of public statements, apologies, and social‑media exchanges involving the studio’s chief executive, Matt Karch, and former writer Stella Sacco, who alleges she was removed from the project and replaced by a language model.
The newly added disclaimer reads in full: "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 original controversy, Sacco claimed that she was hired as the lead writer for Rideshare Simulator, contributed to the narrative and dialogue, and then, midway through the production schedule, was abruptly taken off the project. According to her account, the studio substituted her work with output from ChatGPT, a popular large‑language model, and she also hinted at additional, undisclosed AI applications throughout the game's development pipeline. These allegations sparked a broader debate within the gaming community about the ethics of replacing human creativity with machine‑generated content, especially in a medium that relies heavily on storytelling and player immersion. Matt Karch responded publicly, stating that Sacco "was replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added a somewhat provocative remark: "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." He later elaborated in an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, saying, "Stella who?
I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her. We have already said we are using AI for certain parts of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalised the feature set." Karch attempted to frame the use of AI as a consumer benefit, noting that the technology would be employed in a "lower‑priced title" and could therefore be seen as a value‑add for players.
He suggested that the integration of AI tools could streamline certain development tasks, reduce costs, and potentially allow the team to focus on other aspects of the game such as level design, physics, and user experience. However, many observers pointed out that the core narrative and character dialogue—areas traditionally considered the domain of human writers—are precisely where AI substitution raises the most ethical concerns. The dispute escalated on the social platform BlueSky, where Sacco posted 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 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 wrote. "It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." The incident has reignited a larger industry conversation about transparency, labor rights, and the role of AI in creative fields. Critics argue that studios should disclose any AI involvement upfront, especially when it directly affects the work of human creators.
Proponents of AI, on the other hand, claim that the technology can augment human talent, handling repetitive or data‑driven tasks while leaving higher‑level creative decisions to writers and designers. In response to the backlash, Saber Interactive announced that it would update the Steam page with a detailed breakdown of exactly which components of Rideshare Simulator were generated or assisted by AI. The company pledged to provide a clear list of features—such as procedural traffic generation, UI copy, or certain side‑quest descriptions—that had benefited from machine assistance. This level of disclosure aims to give consumers the information they need to make an informed purchasing decision, while also addressing concerns about the authenticity of the game's narrative voice.
Industry analysts note that this situation could set a precedent for how other developers handle AI disclosures. As AI tools become more sophisticated, the line between assistance and replacement becomes increasingly blurred. Some studios have already begun labeling AI‑generated assets in their credits, while others remain vague, citing competitive advantage or the nascent state of the technology. For writers like Sacco, the episode underscores the precarious position of creative professionals in an era where algorithms can produce plausible prose in seconds.
Unions and advocacy groups are calling for stronger protections, including contractual clauses that guarantee human authorship for key narrative elements and require explicit consent before any AI substitution occurs. Meanwhile, players who follow the development of Rideshare Simulator are left to wonder how much of the final product will bear the imprint of AI versus human craftsmanship.
The game, marketed as an affordable simulation of modern ride‑hailing services, promises realistic physics, dynamic cityscapes, and a variety of passenger interactions. Whether these interactions will feel authentic or mechanically generated remains an open question. In summary, Saber Interactive's addition of an AI disclaimer to its Steam page reflects a growing need for transparency in the gaming industry. CEO Matt Karch's public apology to former writer Stella Sacco highlights the personal and professional fallout that can arise when AI is introduced without clear communication.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for developers, writers, and players alike, emphasizing that while AI can offer powerful efficiencies, it must be employed responsibly, with respect for the creative labor that has traditionally driven the medium.