Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its upcoming title, Rideshare Simulator, after a wave of controversy erupted surrounding claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, now visible to anyone browsing the game’s storefront, acknowledges the use of AI tools in the development process and attempts to clarify the circumstances that led to the public dispute. The full text of the newly posted disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent comments 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 Simulator project midway through development and that her responsibilities were subsequently taken over by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI applications used during the game's creation. In response, Mr. Karch has stated that Ms.
Sacco was replaced by an individual he deemed more skilled and that her contract was terminated for a variety 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 game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a benefit for consumers." In a separate post on the social network 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 later added 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 controversy began when Sacco, who served as the lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly alleged that her position had been terminated and that the company had substituted her work with outputs from ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI.
She also hinted at additional, undisclosed uses of AI throughout the game's development cycle, suggesting that the reliance on automated tools might have extended beyond narrative text to other aspects such as level design, dialogue branching, or even marketing copy. Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, responded to the allegations in a series of interviews and social‑media posts. In his initial reaction, he described Sacco as "someone who was replaced by a more talented individual" and suggested that the decision to part ways was based on a combination of performance considerations and broader project needs. He also admitted that, looking back, he would have been comfortable employing AI to handle the writing duties, a statement that many observers interpreted as a tacit acknowledgment of the company's willingness to rely on machine‑generated content.
During an episode of This Week In Videogames, Karch appeared visibly defensive. He claimed he had never met Sacco in person and that his knowledge of her work came solely from a conversational AI named Claude, which he referenced humorously. He reiterated that Saber had already disclosed its intention to use AI for certain components of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalized.
Karch framed the AI integration as a consumer benefit, arguing that the lower price point of Rideshare Simulator would be offset by the efficiencies gained through automation. The public exchange escalated when Sacco posted on BlueSky, a micro‑blogging platform, stating that Karch had offered an "unreserved" apology for his harsh remarks in the press. She emphasized that she had consistently maintained the truth of her claims and expressed cautious optimism that the apology might lead to a resolution, though she admitted she needed time to consider what a satisfactory outcome would look like. Karch's subsequent LinkedIn post added a personal dimension to the dispute.
He admitted that he had been "triggered" by later comments—though he declined to elaborate on the specifics—and that his initial response was impulsive: "shot first and thought second." By acknowledging his human fallibility, he attempted to humanise the situation and suggest that the misstep was a momentary lapse rather than a calculated strategy. Industry analysts have weighed in on the broader implications of this episode.
The use of AI in game development is a rapidly growing trend, with studios leveraging language models to generate dialogue, quest descriptions, and even code snippets. Proponents argue that AI can accelerate production timelines, reduce costs, and enable smaller teams to produce content that would otherwise require larger staffing budgets.
Critics, however, warn that over‑reliance on AI could erode the craft of storytelling, diminish employment opportunities for writers, and raise ethical concerns about transparency and attribution. In the case of Saber Interactive, the controversy highlights the tension between cost‑saving technological adoption and the expectations of both creators and consumers. Players who value authentic, human‑written narratives may feel uneasy about a game whose story elements are partially or wholly generated by an algorithm. Conversely, budget‑conscious gamers might appreciate a lower price tag made possible by AI efficiencies.
The addition of the AI disclaimer to the Steam page serves multiple purposes. Legally, it can help the company avoid accusations of misleading consumers about the nature of the game's content.
From a public‑relations standpoint, it signals a willingness to be transparent about the role of AI, potentially mitigating backlash. Finally, it sets a precedent for other developers who may be navigating similar decisions about how much AI involvement to disclose. As of now, the future of Rideshare Simulator remains uncertain. The game is still slated for release as a lower‑priced title, and Saber Interactive has indicated that further updates to the Steam page will clarify which specific features rely on AI.
Whether Sacco's concerns will be fully addressed, and whether the apology from Karch will translate into concrete actions—such as reinstating her credit, providing compensation, or establishing clearer AI usage policies—remains to be seen. The episode underscores a broader industry conversation about the ethical integration of AI in creative workflows.
As language models become more capable, studios will need to develop clear guidelines, transparent communication strategies, and fair compensation structures for human talent whose work may be supplemented or replaced by machines. For now, Saber Interactive's public acknowledgment of AI use and the CEO's personal apology represent a tentative step toward navigating this complex, evolving landscape.