Saber Interactive has taken the step of appending an artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of controversy erupted surrounding claims that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI usage and to address the accusations that were raised by former employee Stella Sacco. The full disclaimer reads as follows: “This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive’s Chief Executive Officer, Matt Karch, concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 until July 2024.
Ms. Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator development team part‑way through production and that her responsibilities were subsequently taken over by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI tools employed during the game’s creation.
In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms.
Sacco was ‘replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later,’ and he added that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI. ‘Stella who?’ Mr. Karch told the podcast This Week In Videogames. ‘I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her.’ He continued, ‘We have already stated that 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 BlueSky post over the weekend, Ms.
Sacco wrote that Mr. 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.’ Mr. Karch also posted a public comment on LinkedIn, stating, ‘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.’ He concluded, ‘It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify.’ The sequence of events began when Sacco, who joined Saber Interactive in mid‑2023 as the lead narrative writer for Rideshare Simulator, announced publicly that she had been removed from the project after roughly six months. In her statements, she claimed that the studio had opted to replace her contributions with output generated by ChatGPT, a large language model, and that other AI tools had been employed without prior disclosure to the development team or the public.
Her allegations quickly gained traction on social media, prompting a broader discussion about the ethics of AI in game development, the treatment of creative staff, and the transparency of studios when integrating machine‑generated content. Matt Karch’s initial reaction was defensive.
During an interview with This Week In Videogames, he appeared unfamiliar with Sacco’s work, even joking that he had to ask an AI named Claude to confirm who she was. He framed the decision to use AI as a cost‑saving measure for a lower‑priced title, suggesting that the technology could enhance the consumer experience by reducing development time and expenses.
However, his remarks were perceived by many as dismissive of Sacco’s contributions and as an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the accusations. The backlash intensified after Sacco posted on the BlueSky platform that Karch had offered an “unreserved” apology for the manner in which he spoke about her in the press. She emphasized that she had consistently stood by her account of events and that the truth, in her view, had been validated by the unfolding public discourse. While she accepted the apology, she also indicated that she needed time to consider what restitution or next steps might look like for her personally.
Karch’s subsequent LinkedIn statement attempted to humanize his response, acknowledging that he had acted impulsively after being “triggered” by later comments and that he had spoken before thinking through his reply. He framed his reaction as a common human error and pledged to take corrective actions where possible. In the wake of these developments, Saber Interactive updated the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator to include a clear AI disclaimer.
The notice informs potential buyers that certain elements of the game—such as dialogue, in‑game text, or perhaps procedural content—have been generated or assisted by artificial‑intelligence systems. The company also promised to refine the feature set and provide further details as the development process concludes. The incident highlights several broader industry trends. First, the rapid advancement of generative AI tools has led many studios to experiment with AI‑assisted writing, asset creation, and testing.
While these tools can accelerate production and reduce costs, they also raise questions about authorship, quality control, and the fair treatment of human creators. Second, the episode underscores the importance of transparent communication with both employees and the gaming community when AI is incorporated into a project. Failure to disclose such usage can erode trust and spark public outcry, as seen in this case.
From a legal and ethical standpoint, the use of AI to replace a human writer may intersect with employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and labor standards. If a writer is dismissed and their responsibilities are handed over to an algorithm, the studio must consider whether the original contract addressed such a scenario and whether any severance or compensation obligations arise.
For consumers, the presence of AI‑generated content can affect the overall experience. Some players appreciate the novelty and efficiency of AI‑driven dialogue or dynamic storytelling, while others worry about a loss of nuance, emotional depth, or originality that human writers traditionally bring to games. Saber Interactive’s decision to label the AI involvement aims to give players the information needed to make an informed purchase, especially for a title positioned at a lower price point.
Looking ahead, the industry is likely to see more formal guidelines and perhaps regulatory frameworks governing AI usage in entertainment media. Studios may adopt standardized disclosure practices, similar to content warnings for mature themes, to ensure that audiences are aware of the role AI plays in the final product.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Rideshare Simulator Steam page reflects the company’s attempt to address public concerns after allegations that a human writer was replaced by a language model. CEO Matt Karch’s public apologies—both on a podcast and on LinkedIn—show a recognition of missteps in communication and a willingness to rectify the situation. The episode serves as a case study for how emerging AI technologies intersect with creative labor, transparency, and consumer expectations within the video‑game sector.