Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a clear disclaimer about the use of artificial intelligence in the game's development. This move comes after a heated debate sparked by allegations that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project in favor of AI‑generated text. The new notice, which appears prominently on the game's page, is intended to address community concerns and to provide transparency about the role of AI tools in the creation of the game. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024.
Ms. Sacco claimed she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through development and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI applications used during the game's production.
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," 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 finalised 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 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 separately posted a public comment 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 controversy began when Sacco, who served as the lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly claimed that her position had been terminated and that the company had substituted her work with output generated by ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. She also alleged that other, undisclosed AI tools had been employed throughout the development cycle, raising questions about authorship, creative integrity, and the ethical use of machine‑generated content in video games.
Matt Karch, the chief executive officer of Saber Interactive, responded in a series of interviews and social media posts that the situation was more nuanced. He asserted that Sacco's departure was due to a combination of performance‑related issues and strategic decisions made by the studio, rather than a simple replacement by an algorithm. Karch also indicated that the studio had indeed experimented with AI for certain non‑narrative elements—such as procedural generation of background dialogue, minor text prompts, and quality‑of‑life tools for developers—but insisted that core story beats and character development remained the work of human writers. Karch's comments, however, did not quell the backlash.
Many members of the gaming community expressed concern that relying on AI could diminish the artistic value of narrative‑driven games and potentially lead to job losses for writers, designers, and other creative professionals. Critics pointed out that while AI can assist with repetitive tasks, it often lacks the emotional depth, cultural context, and nuanced storytelling abilities that human creators bring to a project. In an effort to mitigate the fallout, Saber Interactive added the AI disclaimer to the Steam page, explicitly stating which aspects of the game were generated or assisted by artificial intelligence. The notice also promised future updates once the studio finalised the feature set, indicating a commitment to ongoing transparency.
The incident has sparked a broader industry conversation about the appropriate use of AI in game development. Some studios view AI as a valuable tool for rapid prototyping, localization, and content scaling, while others caution against over‑reliance on machine‑generated text, fearing it could erode the distinct voice and originality that players expect from narrative experiences. From a legal perspective, the use of AI in creative works raises questions about intellectual property ownership. If an AI model produces a line of dialogue or a piece of descriptive text, who holds the copyright—the developer, the AI provider, or perhaps no one at all?
These unresolved issues add another layer of complexity to the debate. For Sacco, the episode has been both personally and professionally challenging. In her BlueSky post, she emphasized that she remains committed to telling her side of the story and that she appreciates Karch's apology, even as she acknowledges that the path to reconciliation is still unclear.
She noted that she will take time to consider what a satisfactory resolution might look like, underscoring the emotional toll that public disputes can have on individuals. Karch, meanwhile, has framed his response as a human error—an impulsive reaction to criticism that he now regrets. By publicly acknowledging his mistake and promising corrective action, he hopes to restore trust with both the game's community and his former employee. Overall, the Saber Interactive saga illustrates the growing pains of an industry grappling with rapid technological change.
As AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible, developers will need to balance efficiency gains with ethical considerations, ensuring that the use of automation does not undermine the creative contributions of human talent. The addition of the AI disclaimer on the Rideshare Simulator Steam page may serve as a precedent for other studios seeking to navigate this evolving landscape with greater openness and accountability.