Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store listing 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 appears prominently on the game’s page, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on the use of machine‑learning tools in the development process and to address the controversy that grew out of statements made by the firm’s chief executive, Matt Karch. The full text of the new disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent comments from Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch regarding former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the studio from July 2023 until July 2024.
Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through its development cycle and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications within the game’s creation. In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms. Sacco was replaced by an individual he described as ‘more talented’ and that her employment 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," Mr.
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 finalized the feature set." "We view our use of AI in this particular title, which will be priced lower than our flagship releases, 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 added, "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 issued a public statement on LinkedIn, saying, "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 episode began when Sacco, who served as the lead narrative writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly alleged that her contract was abruptly terminated and that the studio had turned to ChatGPT to finish the remaining copy. Her claims sparked a broader conversation within the gaming community about the ethical implications of replacing human writers with generative AI, especially on a project that relies heavily on storytelling, humor, and user‑generated scenarios. Industry observers noted that the use of AI in game development is a growing trend, with studios experimenting with procedural content generation, automated testing, and even AI‑assisted dialogue writing. However, the line between assistance and replacement remains blurry.
Critics argue that while AI can accelerate certain tasks, it lacks the nuanced understanding of character motivation, cultural context, and emotional resonance that a seasoned writer brings to a script. Matt Karch’s initial reaction to Sacco’s accusations was defensive.
In the interview with This Week In Videogames, he appeared skeptical of her existence, even referencing the AI assistant Claude as a tongue‑in‑cheek way of questioning whether he had ever met her. This tone was widely interpreted as dismissive, fueling further backlash on social media platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, and Discord, where gamers and developers alike debated the propriety of using AI to replace a human creative professional.
Following the outcry, Karch posted a more conciliatory message on LinkedIn, acknowledging that his earlier response was impulsive. He described himself as "triggered" by later comments—though he declined to specify which remarks— and admitted that he had "shot first and thought second" when crafting his reply.
By framing his behavior as a human mistake, Karch attempted to humanize himself and signal a willingness to make amends. Stella Sacco’s response on BlueSky indicated a measured acceptance of the apology, while also emphasizing that she had stood by her version of events from the start. She noted that she needed time to consider what a satisfactory resolution would look like, hinting that further negotiations or perhaps a settlement might be forthcoming.
The addition of the AI disclaimer to the Steam page serves multiple purposes. First, it provides transparency to consumers who may be concerned about the authenticity of the game’s narrative content. Second, it signals to the broader industry that Saber Interactive is aware of the scrutiny surrounding AI usage and is taking steps—however modest—to address it.
Finally, the disclaimer functions as a public record of the dispute, ensuring that future players can see the context behind the development decisions. From a legal perspective, the situation raises questions about employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and the disclosure obligations of companies that employ AI in creative roles. If a writer is terminated and their work is subsequently generated by an algorithm, the ownership of that new content may be ambiguous, especially if the original writer contributed foundational ideas or story arcs.
Looking ahead, the controversy could influence how other studios approach AI integration. Some may adopt stricter guidelines, requiring explicit consent from human contributors before substituting AI‑generated text.
Others might double‑down on AI, marketing it as a cost‑saving measure for lower‑priced titles, as Karch suggested. In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to place an AI usage disclaimer on the Steam listing for Rideshare Simulator reflects both a reaction to public criticism and an attempt to clarify its development practices. CEO Matt Karch’s public apology, coupled with his admission of an impulsive response, indicates a desire to mend the relationship with former writer Stella Sacco and to restore confidence among gamers. The episode underscores the delicate balance studios must strike between leveraging cutting‑edge technology and respecting the creative contributions of human talent, a balance that will likely continue to evolve as AI tools become more sophisticated and more widely adopted in the gaming industry.