Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its upcoming 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 and planned use of AI tools in the development process, and to address the controversy that has drawn considerable attention from both the gaming press and the broader community.
The full wording 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." By publishing this statement, Saber hopes to provide transparency about the role of AI in the project and to quell speculation about whether human authorship has been entirely supplanted by algorithms. The background to the dispute centers on a series of public remarks made by Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, about Stella Sacco, a writer who joined the studio in mid‑2023 and was let go a year later. Sacco claimed that she was abruptly taken off the Rideshare Simulator team partway through production and that her responsibilities were handed over to ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI.
In addition to this specific allegation, Sacco suggested that other, as‑yet‑undisclosed AI technologies had been employed throughout the game's creation, raising concerns about the extent to which human creativity versus automated assistance was shaping the final product. In response, Karch issued a statement that attempted to both defend the studio’s decisions and acknowledge the role of AI. He asserted that Sacco "was replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added, "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." The phrasing of this reply was widely interpreted as dismissive, prompting further backlash from industry observers who argued that the comment minimized the contributions of a human writer while simultaneously endorsing the substitution of creative labor with machine‑generated content. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch elaborated on his lack of direct interaction with Sacco, stating, "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 disclosed its intention to employ AI for certain aspects of the game, and that a revised Steam page would be published once the feature set was finalized. Karch framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, noting, "We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a plus for consumers." The controversy reached a new peak when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, describing Karch’s apology as "unreserved" and acknowledging that she had consistently stood by her version of events. 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 offered a more detailed public comment on LinkedIn, attempting to contextualize 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. It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." This candid acknowledgment of an impulsive response was intended to humanize his mistake, but many critics argued that it fell short of addressing the deeper ethical questions surrounding AI substitution for human writers.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation within the gaming industry about the appropriate balance between artificial‑intelligence assistance and human creativity. While AI can accelerate certain tasks—such as generating placeholder text, localizing dialogue, or providing rapid prototyping of narrative branches—there remains a strong sentiment among developers and players that authentic storytelling requires the nuanced touch of a human author.
The controversy surrounding Rideshare Simulator serves as a case study in how quickly public perception can shift when a studio appears to prioritize efficiency over artistic integrity. In the weeks following the dispute, Saber Interactive has taken several concrete steps to mitigate the fallout.
Beyond updating the Steam page, the studio announced plans to host an internal review of its AI policies, inviting input from both technical staff and creative personnel. The goal, according to an internal memo circulated to employees, is to develop a clear set of guidelines that delineate when AI tools are permissible, how credit should be assigned, and what safeguards will be put in place to protect the rights and contributions of human creators.
Industry analysts note that this situation is not isolated. Several high‑profile studios have recently faced scrutiny for employing AI in scriptwriting, character design, and even music composition.
The key differentiator, they argue, is transparency. When developers openly disclose the extent of AI involvement and maintain a collaborative relationship with human creators, the community tends to be more forgiving. Conversely, secretive or dismissive attitudes—like those initially displayed by Karch—tend to provoke backlash and erode trust.
For gamers who follow the development of Rideshare Simulator, the controversy has added an unexpected layer of intrigue. The game, which aims to simulate the day‑to‑day challenges of rideshare drivers, promises a blend of realistic physics, dynamic city environments, and narrative choices that reflect the pressures of gig‑economy work. Whether the final product will incorporate AI‑generated dialogue or rely on traditional writing remains to be seen, but the studio’s recent disclaimer suggests that some level of machine assistance is indeed part of the development pipeline. In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to post an AI disclaimer on the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects an effort to address public concerns after a dispute over the replacement of writer Stella Sacco with ChatGPT.
CEO Matt Karch issued an apology, acknowledging his impulsive reaction to criticism, while also emphasizing that AI use could benefit consumers, especially for a lower‑priced title. The episode has ignited a wider debate about the role of artificial intelligence in game development, highlighting the need for clear policies, transparency, and respect for human creators. As the industry continues to grapple with these issues, the outcome of this particular controversy may serve as a benchmark for how studios navigate the delicate balance between technological innovation and artistic authenticity.