Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had sidelined a human writer in favor of machine‑generated text. The controversy began when former staff member Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024, publicly alleged that she was removed from the project midway through development and that her responsibilities were handed over to ChatGPT. Sacco also suggested that other, still‑undisclosed aspects of the game’s creation had involved AI tools. In reaction to those accusations, Saber’s chief executive officer, Matt Karch, issued a statement that attempted to clarify the situation.
He said that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added, in hindsight, that he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI. Karch’s remarks were captured in an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, where he admitted, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He went on to note that the studio had already disclosed that it was employing AI for certain components of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the full feature set was finalized. "We view our use of AI in this particular, lower‑priced title as a benefit for consumers," he said.
The fallout continued on social media. Over the weekend, Sacco posted on the BlueSky platform 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, for his part, shared a separate public comment on LinkedIn in which he reflected on his own conduct. "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 shines a light on a broader industry debate about the role of generative AI in game development. On one side, studios argue that AI can accelerate content creation, reduce costs, and enable smaller teams to produce larger amounts of dialogue, description, or procedural narrative. On the other side, critics warn that reliance on AI may marginalise human writers, dilute creative voice, and raise ethical questions about attribution and labor rights. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the game is positioned as a more affordable, niche experience, which Saber has used to justify a heavier AI footprint.
The company’s decision to place an explicit disclaimer on its Steam page appears to be an attempt to be transparent with consumers, many of whom have expressed concern that AI‑generated text could affect the authenticity of the gameplay experience. The disclaimer itself 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 response, Karch stated that Sacco was 'replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later,' and added that 'in retrospect [he] would have been happy to replace her with AI.'" The company further notes that it is continuing to evaluate AI usage and will provide additional updates as the feature set becomes finalised.
The personal dimension of the dispute cannot be ignored. Sacco’s claim that she was dismissed in favour of a language model touches on real‑world concerns about job security in creative fields as AI tools become more sophisticated. Karch’s admission that he reacted impulsively to criticism—"shot first and thought second"—suggests that the public exchange may have been fueled by emotion as much as by policy.
His LinkedIn post attempts to humanise the misstep, acknowledging that he is "a human being" capable of error, and promising to take steps to make amends. Industry observers note that this episode could serve as a cautionary tale for other developers. Transparent communication about AI involvement, clear attribution of human versus machine contributions, and respectful treatment of staff are emerging as best practices. Some studios have begun to label AI‑generated assets directly in their credits, while others have instituted internal guidelines to ensure that AI supplements rather than replaces human talent.
For players, the practical impact of the AI disclaimer may be limited. Rideshare Simulator is a driving and business‑management simulation that focuses on the day‑to‑day operations of a rideshare service. The narrative elements—such as driver dialogues, customer interactions, and tutorial text—are likely the areas where AI could be most visible.
Whether AI‑crafted prose can match the nuance and humor of a seasoned writer remains a point of contention among fans. Some anticipate that AI could introduce fresh, varied content more quickly, while others fear a loss of personality and depth. In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects an effort to address community concerns after allegations that a human writer was replaced by ChatGPT. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologised to former writer Stella Sacco, acknowledging that his initial reaction to criticism was hasty.
The situation underscores the growing pains of integrating AI into creative pipelines and highlights the importance of transparency, ethical labor practices, and clear communication with both staff and players as the gaming industry navigates this new technological frontier.