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 AI‑generated text. The notice, which now sits prominently on the game’s storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on artificial‑intelligence tools and to address the controversy that has surrounded the development process.
The full text of the 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." The background to this statement involves a series of public remarks made by both parties. Stella Sacco, who served as a lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, alleged that she was taken off the project part‑way through production and that her responsibilities were handed over to an artificial‑intelligence system, specifically ChatGPT. Sacco further suggested that the studio had employed additional, undisclosed AI tools in other aspects of the game’s creation, raising questions about transparency and the ethical use of machine‑generated content in a commercial product.
In response, Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, issued a rebuttal that attempted to both defend the company’s hiring decisions and to distance himself from the accusations. He claimed that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added a somewhat contradictory remark that "in retrospect [he] would have been happy to replace her with AI." This admission, though vague, suggested that the use of AI was at least contemplated, if not already implemented, during the development cycle. Karch’s comments continued in an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, where he said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." The reference to Claude, an AI model, underscored the irony of the situation: the CEO was relying on an artificial‑intelligence assistant to confirm the identity of a human colleague he claimed never interacted with.
He went on to state, "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." He framed the integration of AI as a benefit for consumers, describing the upcoming title as a "lower priced" offering that would be enhanced by the technology. The dispute escalated when Sacco posted on the social network BlueSky over the weekend, noting 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, issued a separate public statement on LinkedIn, attempting to contextualise his earlier reaction. 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," acknowledging that his initial reply was impulsive.
He added, "It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify," signaling a willingness to address the fallout but offering few concrete steps beyond the apology itself. The controversy touches on several broader industry trends. First, the increasing reliance on AI for content creation—ranging from procedural generation of environments to the drafting of dialogue—has sparked debates about authorship, quality control, and the rights of human creators.
While AI can accelerate certain workflows, many writers and artists fear that it may be used as a cost‑cutting measure that sidelines skilled professionals. In Sacco’s case, the allegation that she was removed and substituted with a language model raises ethical questions about transparency and the treatment of staff. Second, the incident highlights the importance of clear communication from studios when they adopt new technologies.
By initially failing to disclose the extent of AI usage, Saber Interactive left room for speculation and mistrust. The subsequent addition of a disclaimer on the Steam page can be seen as a remedial measure, but it also serves as a reminder that consumers increasingly expect honesty about how games are built, especially when emerging tools like AI are involved.
Finally, the personal dynamics between Karch and Sacco illustrate how quickly professional disagreements can spill into the public sphere. Karch’s admission that he acted emotionally—"shot first and thought second"—is a candid acknowledgment that even senior executives can react impulsively under pressure. His willingness to apologize publicly, albeit in a brief LinkedIn post, may help to defuse the immediate tension, but the longer‑term impact on Saber’s reputation and on the morale of its development team remains uncertain. In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to place an AI disclaimer on the Rideshare Simulator Steam page reflects an attempt to address a controversy sparked by accusations of replacing a human writer with a language model.
CEO Matt Karch’s public apologies and explanations, while acknowledging his own missteps, also underscore the challenges studios face as they navigate the integration of AI into creative pipelines. The episode serves as a case study for the gaming industry, illustrating the need for transparency, respectful treatment of talent, and thoughtful communication when leveraging powerful new technologies.