Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator after a storm of controversy erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of machine‑generated copy. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s page, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI usage and to address the accusations that have been circulating online. 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.
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 controversy began when former staff member Stella Sacco, who served as a lead writer on the project for roughly a year, took to the social‑media platform BlueSky to allege that she had been removed from the development team halfway through the production cycle and that her responsibilities were handed over to a version of ChatGPT. Sacco also claimed that other, still‑undisclosed aspects of the game had been built using AI tools, raising questions about transparency, authorship, and the ethical implications of substituting human creativity with algorithmic output.
Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, responded publicly to these allegations. In an interview with the video‑game podcast "This Week In Videogames," he 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 studio had already announced its intention to employ AI for certain components of the game and that a more detailed update would be posted on Steam once the feature set had been finalized. Karch framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, describing the upcoming title—a lower‑priced offering—as a "plus for consumers" because AI could streamline production and potentially lower costs.
The exchange quickly escalated on social media. Sacco posted a follow‑up on BlueSky 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." Karch later issued a separate statement on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction to the unfolding drama. "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 incident highlights a broader industry conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in game development. While AI can assist with tasks such as procedural content generation, localization, and even narrative drafting, many creators worry that over‑reliance on these tools could diminish the value of human storytelling and lead to job displacement.
In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the core dispute revolves around whether a human writer was unjustly removed and replaced by a language model, and whether the studio was forthcoming about that decision. From a legal perspective, there are also questions about intellectual‑property rights.
If a significant portion of the game's script originates from an AI system, it is unclear who holds the copyright—the developer, the AI provider, or perhaps no one at all. This ambiguity adds another layer of complexity to the public's expectations of transparency. For players, the practical impact may be subtle. An AI‑generated script could still deliver an engaging experience if the underlying design, voice acting, and gameplay mechanics are solid.
However, fans who value authentic, human‑crafted narratives might feel shortchanged if they learn that a beloved writer's contributions were supplanted by a machine. In response to the backlash, Saber Interactive has pledged to be more explicit about where AI is employed within the game. The newly added disclaimer on Steam is intended to inform potential buyers that certain textual elements, dialogue options, or mission descriptions may have been assisted or fully generated by artificial‑intelligence algorithms.
The studio also indicated that it will release a more comprehensive breakdown of AI usage once the final feature set is locked down, suggesting that the current statement is a placeholder rather than a final answer. Industry observers note that this episode could serve as a cautionary tale for other developers navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Clear communication, contractual clarity with writers and artists, and a transparent disclosure policy may become essential best practices to avoid similar disputes. As the situation continues to unfold, both parties appear to be seeking a resolution.
Sacco's acceptance of Karch's apology, albeit tentative, hints at a possible reconciliation, while the studio's commitment to updating its Steam page demonstrates an effort to restore trust with its community. Whether this will satisfy critics who view the use of AI as a threat to creative labor remains to be seen, but the dialogue around AI ethics in game development is undeniably gaining momentum. In summary, Saber Interactive's decision to place an AI disclaimer on the Rideshare Simulator Steam page follows a contentious series of statements from CEO Matt Karch and former writer Stella Sacco.
The dispute centers on claims that a human writer was removed and substituted with ChatGPT, sparking broader questions about transparency, authorship, and the ethical deployment of AI in interactive entertainment. Karch has publicly apologized for his initial reaction, acknowledging his impulsive response to the controversy, and the studio now promises more detailed disclosures about AI involvement as the project moves toward release.