Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit AI usage disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had replaced a human writer with artificial‑intelligence‑generated text. The notice, posted directly on the game's page, seeks to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI tools and to address the accusations that had surfaced online.
The full wording of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch concerning 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 development and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications within the game's creation process.
In response, Mr. Karch has indicated 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 game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a benefit for consumers." The controversy began when former staff member Stella Sacco took to the social network BlueSky to detail her experience. In her post, Sacco claimed that after a year of working on Rideshare Simulator, she was abruptly removed from the project and that the studio substituted her contributions with outputs generated by ChatGPT. She further suggested that the company had employed additional AI tools in areas of the game that had not yet been publicly disclosed.
Sacco’s statements quickly gained traction among game‑development observers and AI‑ethics commentators, prompting a flurry of speculation about the ethical implications of replacing human creative labor with machine‑generated content. The discussion was amplified by the fact that Rideshare Simulator is marketed as an affordable, indie‑style title, raising questions about whether cost pressures were driving the studio toward automation.
Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, responded in a series of public remarks that mixed defensiveness with a later admission of regret. Initially, Karch framed Sacco’s departure as a personnel decision unrelated to AI, describing her as having been "replaced by someone more talented" and noting that she was terminated a few months later for a range of reasons.
He also hinted that, looking back, he would have been comfortable using AI to fill the role, a comment that many interpreted as an acknowledgment of the studio’s openness to automation. During an interview with the weekly video‑game discussion show This Week In Videogames, Karch appeared somewhat flustered when asked about Sacco.
He responded, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," referencing Claude, an AI language model similar to ChatGPT. This remark underscored the irony of the situation: a CEO citing an AI assistant to confirm he had never met the writer whose employment was under dispute. Karch further explained that the studio had already disclosed its intention to incorporate AI for certain aspects of the game, such as procedural content generation, dialogue tweaking, and quality‑assurance testing.
He promised that once the AI‑driven features were finalized, the Steam page would be updated to reflect the exact scope of machine involvement. According to Karch, the use of AI in a lower‑priced title like Rideshare Simulator should be viewed as a consumer benefit, potentially lowering production costs and allowing the studio to allocate resources elsewhere.
The dialogue took another turn when Sacco posted a follow‑up on BlueSky, 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." In parallel, Karch issued a public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction. He wrote, "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." Karch’s admission of a "shot‑first‑think‑second" approach resonated with many observers who noted that impulsive reactions are common in high‑pressure public relations scenarios. However, critics argued that such a stance does not excuse the potential mistreatment of a former employee nor the lack of transparency regarding AI usage. The episode has sparked a broader conversation within the gaming industry about the balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and preserving the creative contributions of human writers, artists, and designers.
While AI can accelerate repetitive tasks—such as generating placeholder text, testing variations, or even drafting dialogue—many professionals caution that fully substituting human storytelling talent can erode the authenticity and nuance that players value. Industry analysts point out that the cost‑savings associated with AI are attractive, especially for smaller studios aiming to compete in a crowded marketplace.
Yet they also warn that over‑reliance on machine‑generated content may lead to homogenized experiences, legal challenges around intellectual property, and morale issues among staff who fear being replaced. In response to the controversy, several game‑development unions and advocacy groups have called for clearer guidelines on AI disclosure.
They propose that studios should explicitly label any AI‑generated elements in marketing materials, credit the tools used, and ensure that employees are informed about how AI may affect their roles. As of now, Saber Interactive’s Steam page reflects the newly added disclaimer, and the company has indicated that it will continue to refine its AI integration strategy. Whether the studio will reinstate Sacco, offer compensation, or take further steps to mend the professional relationship remains uncertain.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for other developers navigating the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and creative labor. In summary, Saber Interactive’s decision to place an AI disclaimer on Rideshare Simulator’s Steam listing follows a public dispute involving former writer Stella Sacco’s claim that she was supplanted by ChatGPT. CEO Matt Karch initially defended the personnel change, later expressing regret for his hasty remarks and offering an apology. The situation has ignited industry‑wide dialogue about ethical AI use, employee rights, and the importance of transparency in game development, highlighting the delicate balance between technological innovation and human creativity.