Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit AI disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of machine‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on artificial‑intelligence tools and to address the lingering controversy surrounding the departure of former staff member Stella Sacco. The full wording of the new disclaimer 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 statement goes on to acknowledge that the studio has already disclosed its intention to employ AI for certain elements of the game and promises to update the Steam page once the feature set is finalised.
The background to this development began when Sacco, who served as a lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly alleged that she was removed from the project part‑way through production and that her responsibilities were handed over to the language model ChatGPT. She further suggested that other, still‑undisclosed, aspects of the game's creation had also relied on artificial‑intelligence assistance. These accusations quickly attracted attention from both the gaming press and the broader developer community, sparking a debate about the ethical implications of replacing human creative talent with automated tools.
CEO Matt Karch responded to the allegations in a series of interviews and social‑media posts. In 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." He went on to explain that the company had already been transparent about its use of AI for specific parts of the title and that the upcoming update to the Steam page would reflect the final list of AI‑enabled features. Karch framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, noting that Rideshare Simulator is positioned as a lower‑priced offering and that AI integration could help keep the price point affordable while still delivering a polished experience.
The situation took another turn when Sacco posted on the BlueSky platform over the weekend, stating 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." Sacco's message indicated a tentative acceptance of the apology while also acknowledging that the path forward remained uncertain. Karch later issued a separate public comment on LinkedIn, where he admitted, "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." This candid admission of an impulsive reaction was meant to convey a degree of humility and to signal that the company was taking steps to address any lingering grievances. The broader industry reaction has been mixed.
Some observers argue that the use of AI in narrative design is an inevitable evolution, pointing out that language models can generate large volumes of placeholder text quickly, allowing human writers to focus on higher‑level storytelling and world‑building. Others caution that replacing a skilled writer with a machine undermines the creative integrity of a game and sets a concerning precedent for labor practices in the sector. In response to the controversy, Saber Interactive has pledged to be more transparent about its AI workflow.
The updated Steam disclaimer now promises regular updates as the development team finalises which components will be AI‑generated versus hand‑crafted. The studio also indicated that it will conduct internal reviews to ensure that any AI‑assisted content meets quality standards and does not compromise the game's artistic vision. For Sacco, the episode has been a personal and professional ordeal. She has expressed a desire for clarity regarding any potential restitution or acknowledgment of her contributions, while also emphasizing that her primary goal remains the truthfulness of her statements about the development process.
The dialogue between her and Karch appears to be ongoing, with both parties indicating a willingness to find a resolution, albeit one that may take time to materialise. Overall, the incident underscores the growing pains that arise as the gaming industry integrates advanced AI technologies into creative pipelines.
It raises important questions about authorship, compensation, and the ethical limits of automation in a field that has traditionally relied on human imagination and storytelling expertise. As Saber Interactive moves forward with its updated AI policy and continues to develop Rideshare Simulator, the community will be watching closely to see how the company balances innovation with respect for the human talent that has long driven the medium forward.