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 criticism erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of machine‑generated text. The company’s public notice, now visible on the game’s Steam page, acknowledges the controversy and outlines the firm’s stance on AI usage within the project. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent statements made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024. Ms.
Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare development team midway through production and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications throughout the game’s creation. In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms.
Sacco was replaced by an individual he considered more skilled and that her employment was terminated for a range of reasons a few months later. He further added that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI.
"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 said we are using AI for certain parts of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalised the feature set." "We view our use of AI in this particular title—a lower‑priced offering—as a benefit to consumers." In a separate post on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, Sacco wrote that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She continued, "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 posted a public comment on LinkedIn, stating, "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." The incident highlights a broader industry debate about the role of generative AI tools in creative workflows. Over the past year, many game studios have experimented with language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and others to draft dialogue, generate quest descriptions, or even assist with narrative design. Proponents argue that AI can accelerate production, reduce costs, and free human writers to focus on higher‑level storytelling tasks.
Critics, however, warn that over‑reliance on machine‑generated text can dilute artistic quality, erode job security for writers, and raise ethical concerns about attribution and transparency. In Saber Interactive’s case, the controversy centers on whether a human writer was unfairly removed and replaced by a chatbot without proper justification. According to Sacco’s statements, she joined the Rideshare project in July 2023, contributing to early design documents, character bios, and in‑game tutorial scripts. She claims that midway through development—approximately six months into the schedule—her role was terminated and the responsibilities she held were handed over to an AI system, specifically OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The allegation that the studio also employed AI for other, undisclosed aspects of the game has further fueled speculation about the depth of automation within the title. Matt Karch’s response attempts to mitigate the fallout by emphasizing that the AI usage is limited to "certain parts" of the game and that the final Steam page will be updated once the feature list is locked down.
He also frames the AI integration as a consumer benefit, suggesting that the lower price point of Rideshare Simulator will be justified by the efficiencies gained through automation. Nevertheless, his remarks about replacing Sacco with "someone more talented" and his admission that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable using AI instead of a human writer, have been interpreted by many observers as dismissive of the writer’s contributions. The public apology posted on BlueSky and LinkedIn reflects an attempt by Karch to acknowledge his impulsive reaction.
He describes himself as having been "triggered" by later comments and admitting that he "shot first and thought second," a candid admission that resonates with a growing expectation for leaders to own up to missteps in real time. While the apology signals a willingness to make amends, Sacco’s response indicates that she remains uncertain about what concrete reparations might look like, noting that she needs time to process the situation. Industry analysts see this episode as a microcosm of the challenges studios will face as AI tools become more sophisticated.
Legal experts point out that existing employment contracts often lack clauses addressing AI substitution, potentially leaving both parties in a gray area when a writer’s duties are partially or fully automated. Meanwhile, unions representing game developers are beginning to draft guidelines that would require explicit disclosure when AI is used to generate creative content, ensuring that workers are informed and that credit is appropriately assigned. From a consumer perspective, the controversy may affect how players perceive Rideshare Simulator’s narrative quality.
Some gamers worry that AI‑generated dialogue could feel generic or lack the nuance that a seasoned writer brings. Others are more pragmatic, focusing on gameplay mechanics, price, and overall fun factor, and may be less concerned about the provenance of the script. Looking ahead, Saber Interactive has indicated that it will continue to refine its AI policy and will provide updates on the Steam page once the feature set is finalized. The company’s statement suggests a commitment to transparency, though critics will be watching closely to see whether the promised disclosures materialize and whether any further incidents arise.
In summary, the saga involves a former writer alleging she was ousted in favor of a chatbot, a CEO who initially defended the decision but later issued an apology acknowledging his hasty reaction, and a studio that now publicly flags AI usage on its Steam listing. The episode underscores the delicate balance between leveraging cutting‑edge technology and maintaining fair labor practices, a balance that the broader gaming industry will continue to negotiate as AI becomes an ever‑more integral part of the development toolkit.