Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of criticism erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human 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 and planned use of machine‑learning tools in the development process and to address the controversy that has surrounded the project since early 2024.
The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the studio from July 2023 until July 2024. Ms. Sacco has alleged that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator team midway through production and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by the language model ChatGPT.
She also claimed that additional, undisclosed AI technologies were employed throughout the game’s creation. In response, Mr.
Karch has stated that Ms. 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." "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 a lower‑priced offering, as a benefit for consumers." In a recent post on the social platform BlueSky, Ms. Sacco wrote that Mr. Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She continued, "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." Separately, Mr. Karch published a public comment on LinkedIn in which 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." The controversy began when Sacco, who served as the lead narrative writer for Rideshare Simulator, posted a series of messages on professional networking sites alleging that her contract was terminated shortly after she raised concerns about the increasing reliance on AI tools. According to her statements, the studio had begun to substitute human‑crafted dialogue, mission briefs, and tutorial text with output generated by ChatGPT and other large language models.
Sacco claimed that this shift not only undermined her role but also raised ethical questions about transparency, authorship, and the quality of the final product. Saber Interactive’s leadership initially responded with a brief denial, suggesting that the AI usage was limited to peripheral tasks such as localization assistance and bug‑report summarization.
However, as more evidence surfaced—including internal emails and timestamps that appeared to align with Sacco’s timeline—the company faced mounting pressure from the gaming community, journalists, and industry watchdogs to provide a clearer account. In an effort to quell the backlash, CEO Matt Karch appeared on the video‑game commentary show This Week In Videogames, where he attempted to contextualize the studio’s decision‑making process. During the interview, Karch claimed he had never personally met Sacco and that his knowledge of her contributions came solely from a conversational AI named Claude, a reference to an AI model developed by Anthropic.
This remark was widely interpreted as a deflection and sparked further criticism, with many observers questioning the credibility of a CEO who appeared to rely on an AI to recall a former employee. Karch also emphasized that the use of AI in Rideshare Simulator was intended to keep production costs low, thereby allowing the final game to be offered at a more affordable price point for consumers.
He argued that AI‑generated assets could streamline repetitive writing tasks, freeing human writers to focus on higher‑level storytelling and design. Nonetheless, critics pointed out that the ethical considerations surrounding consent, attribution, and the potential displacement of creative talent had not been adequately addressed. Following the interview, Sacco posted an update on BlueSky, acknowledging Karch’s apology but expressing uncertainty about what concrete steps would follow. She indicated that while she accepted the apology, the resolution of her grievances—such as potential compensation, public acknowledgment of her contributions, or a formal review of the studio’s AI policy—remained undefined.
The LinkedIn post from Karch further illuminated his perspective. He admitted that his initial reaction to the controversy was emotionally driven, describing himself as having been “triggered” by later comments that he chose not to elaborate on.
By describing his response as “shooting first and thinking second,” Karch framed his misstep as a human error rather than a calculated corporate maneuver. He concluded by stating that he had taken steps to “rectify” the situation, though he offered few specifics beyond the addition of the Steam disclaimer.
Industry analysts have noted that this episode reflects a broader tension within game development as studios experiment with AI to accelerate content creation. While AI can indeed assist with tasks such as procedural text generation, localization, and QA testing, the replacement of skilled writers raises concerns about artistic integrity and labor practices.
The Rideshare Simulator case may become a reference point for future debates about how and when AI should be disclosed to players and stakeholders. In response to the public outcry, Saber Interactive has pledged to revise its internal policies regarding AI usage.
The company announced that it will establish a transparent framework that outlines which aspects of game development may involve AI, how the output will be reviewed by human experts, and how contributors will be credited. Additionally, the studio said it would create a channel for employees to raise concerns about AI integration without fear of retaliation. As of now, the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator includes the new AI disclaimer, which informs potential buyers that certain narrative elements, UI text, and in‑game prompts may have been generated or assisted by artificial‑intelligence tools.
The notice also assures players that the core gameplay mechanics and overall design remain the product of human designers and programmers. The episode underscores the importance of clear communication and ethical stewardship when incorporating emerging technologies into creative industries. It serves as a reminder that while AI can be a powerful ally in streamlining production, studios must balance efficiency with respect for the human talent that shapes the stories and experiences that gamers cherish.