Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its upcoming 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 notice, now visible to anyone browsing the game’s page, acknowledges the use of AI tools in the development process and seeks to clarify the studio’s stance amid growing scrutiny. The full disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former staff member Stella Sacco, who was employed by the studio from July 2023 until July 2024.
Ms. Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through production and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT.
She also claims that other, still‑undisclosed, AI technologies were employed during the game's creation." In his public response, Karch countered these allegations by stating that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added, "In hindsight, I would have been comfortable swapping her out for an AI solution." He further emphasized that the studio’s use of AI was intentional and would be reflected on the Steam page once the final feature set was locked down. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her in person. We have already announced that we are employing AI for certain aspects of the game, and we will update the Steam page when we have a definitive list of those features." He continued, "We view our application of AI in this particular title—a lower‑priced offering—as a benefit for consumers, providing cost savings that can be passed on to players." The controversy intensified over the weekend when Sacco posted a message on the social platform BlueSky, stating that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the terrible way he spoke about me in the press." She wrote, "From the start I have been firm that my account was truthful; the facts have now been borne out.
Matt expressed a desire to make things right with me. At this point I’m not sure what that looks like, and I need time to process it, but I do accept his apology." Karch, for his part, 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 admitted.
"It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify the situation." The episode touches on several broader industry trends. First, the use of large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and others in game development has surged as studios look for ways to accelerate writing, localization, and even procedural content generation.
While AI can reduce costs and speed up production pipelines, it also raises ethical questions about authorship, credit, and the treatment of human creators. Second, the dispute highlights the importance of transparent communication with both employees and the public. When a former employee alleges that their role was supplanted by a machine, the perception of a company can shift dramatically, especially in an environment where many creators are already concerned about job security in the age of automation. Third, the incident underscores the need for clear internal policies regarding AI usage.
Many studios are now drafting guidelines that delineate when AI can be employed, how outputs should be reviewed, and how credit should be attributed. In the case of Saber Interactive, the lack of an upfront disclaimer appears to have contributed to the backlash, prompting the retroactive addition of the notice.
From a consumer perspective, the impact of AI on a lower‑priced title like Rideshare Simulator could be twofold. On the positive side, AI‑assisted writing may allow the development team to allocate more resources toward gameplay polish, bug fixing, or additional content, potentially delivering a richer experience for the price paid. On the negative side, players who value handcrafted narrative may feel shortchanged if they discover that significant portions of the script were generated by an algorithm rather than a human writer. The apology from Karch, while sincere in tone, leaves open questions about concrete steps the studio will take to address the concerns raised.
Will there be a formal review of the development process? Will former staff members receive any form of restitution or acknowledgment? And how will future AI usage be disclosed to both the development team and the public?
Industry observers suggest that this case could serve as a cautionary tale for other developers. Transparent disclosure, respectful treatment of staff, and a balanced approach to integrating AI tools are likely to become best‑practice standards as the technology matures. In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to append an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects a reactive measure to a controversy sparked by allegations of replacing a human writer with ChatGPT. CEO Matt Karch’s public apology acknowledges his impulsive response to criticism, and both parties appear to be seeking a path forward.
The incident shines a spotlight on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in game creation, the importance of clear communication, and the ongoing debate over how AI should be integrated without undermining the contributions of human creators.