Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal AI disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of criticism erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of artificial‑intelligence‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game's storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current and future use of AI tools in the development process, and to address the specific controversy surrounding former staff member Stella Sacco. The full text 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.
In response, Karch stated that 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.'" The statement goes on to quote Karch’s interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, in which he said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her. 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 look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a plus for consumers." The controversy began when Sacco, who served as a lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, posted on the social network BlueSky that she had been removed from the project midway through its development cycle and that her responsibilities had been handed over to the language model ChatGPT.
She further alleged that additional, undisclosed AI tools had been employed throughout the creation of the game, raising concerns about transparency, authorship, and the ethical treatment of creative staff. Matt Karch’s reaction to these accusations was swift and, by his own admission, emotionally charged. In a public comment on LinkedIn, 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 I responded. It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." This candid admission of a knee‑jerk response sparked further discussion about corporate accountability and the pressures executives face when dealing with public criticism. Following the backlash, Sacco posted another update on BlueSky indicating that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She said, "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." The incident highlights a broader industry trend in which game developers are increasingly experimenting with AI for tasks ranging from procedural content generation to narrative drafting.
While AI can accelerate production pipelines and reduce costs, it also raises questions about the displacement of human talent, the quality of AI‑generated storytelling, and the need for clear disclosure to consumers. Many players and industry observers argue that transparency is essential, especially when a game is marketed as a narrative‑driven experience. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the title is positioned as an affordable, lower‑priced offering that simulates the day‑to‑day operations of a ridesharing driver.
The studio’s decision to incorporate AI into certain aspects of the game—such as generating dialogue snippets, populating in‑game text, or assisting with localization—was presented by Karch as a consumer benefit, suggesting that AI could help deliver more content for less money. However, critics contend that without explicit labeling, players cannot assess the authenticity of the experience or the extent to which human creativity remains at the core. The addition of the AI disclaimer on Steam serves several purposes.
First, it acknowledges the public concern and attempts to restore trust by being forthright about the technologies used. Second, it provides a reference point for future updates, indicating that the studio intends to keep the page current as the feature set evolves.
Finally, it sets a precedent for other developers who may face similar scrutiny, signaling that proactive communication can mitigate reputational damage. Beyond the immediate fallout, the episode may influence how contracts and employment agreements are drafted within the gaming sector. Writers and artists may seek clauses that protect their roles from being supplanted by AI without prior notice or consent.
Studios, on the other hand, might develop internal policies governing the ethical deployment of AI, including guidelines for attribution, quality control, and the preservation of human oversight. In summary, Saber Interactive’s response to the controversy surrounding Rideshare Simulator involves a multi‑layered approach: an official AI usage notice on Steam, a public apology from CEO Matt Karch, and an ongoing dialogue with the former writer, Stella Sacco. The situation underscores the delicate balance between leveraging cutting‑edge technology and maintaining transparent, respectful relationships with both employees and the gaming community.
As AI continues to permeate creative industries, the lessons learned from this incident will likely shape future standards for disclosure, accountability, and the respectful integration of machine‑generated content alongside human talent.