Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam listing for its title Rideshare Simulator after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, posted directly on the game’s storefront, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI usage and to address the accusations that surfaced publicly. The full disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows recent statements 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 alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through development and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI tools used during the game’s creation. In response, Mr. Karch has clarified that Ms.
Sacco was replaced by an individual he deemed more skilled and that her contract was terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later. He further added that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable substituting her work 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 announced that we are employing AI for certain elements 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 priced lower than our flagship releases, as a benefit for consumers." The controversy intensified when Sacco posted on the social network BlueSky over the weekend, stating that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She wrote, "I have been firm from the beginning that I was telling the truth; I think we can all now agree that it has 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 later added a public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his emotional reaction. "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 said.
"It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." The episode raises several broader questions about the role of AI in creative industries, especially video‑game development. On one hand, developers argue that AI can accelerate content creation, generate placeholder assets, and even assist with narrative brainstorming.
On the other hand, critics warn that reliance on AI could marginalize human writers, artists, and designers, potentially eroding the unique voice that distinguishes a studio’s work. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the game is positioned as a lower‑priced, niche title aimed at players who enjoy realistic driving experiences.
Saber Interactive has suggested that integrating AI tools will allow them to keep the retail price modest while still delivering a polished product. The company claims that AI is being used for specific, non‑core aspects of the game—such as procedural generation of background dialogue, minor UI text, and certain environmental descriptions—rather than for the primary storyline or character development.
Nevertheless, the allegations made by Sacco highlight a perceived lack of transparency. She contends that her removal was not simply a personnel decision but part of a larger shift toward automation that was not communicated to the development team or the public. Her statement that she was "replaced by someone more talented" was met with skepticism, especially given the timing of her departure and the subsequent AI disclaimer.
Industry observers note that this is not the first time a studio has faced scrutiny over AI usage. Earlier this year, several major publishers were questioned about the extent to which they employed language models to draft marketing copy, in‑game lore, and even code snippets.
Some have responded by publishing detailed AI policies, while others have chosen to keep their methods private, citing competitive concerns. The conversation also touches on legal and ethical considerations. Labor laws in many jurisdictions do not yet address the replacement of human workers with AI, leaving a gray area for employers.
Ethically, the question remains whether it is fair to replace a writer who has contributed to a project with a machine, especially if the writer’s contract does not explicitly cover AI substitution. Matt Karch’s apology, though publicly posted, appears to be more of a personal mea culpa than a formal corporate acknowledgment. By describing his reaction as “triggered” and admitting he “shot first and thought second,” he frames the incident as an emotional misstep rather than a calculated policy decision. This language may be intended to humanize his response and mitigate backlash, but it also leaves room for interpretation about the seriousness of the underlying issue.
Going forward, Saber Interactive has indicated that it will keep the Steam page updated as it finalizes the AI features slated for Rideshare Simulator. The company says it will provide more granular information about which components are AI‑generated and which remain the work of human creators. Whether this level of disclosure will satisfy the gaming community remains to be seen. For players and industry professionals alike, the saga serves as a reminder that the integration of AI into creative pipelines is still in its early stages, and the standards for transparency, attribution, and worker rights are still being defined.
As studios experiment with these powerful tools, they will need to balance efficiency gains with the responsibility to treat their human collaborators fairly and to keep audiences informed about how their games are made. In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Rideshare Simulator Steam page is a direct response to public allegations that a former writer was ousted in favor of machine‑generated content. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologized for his earlier remarks, acknowledging his impulsive reaction and promising corrective actions.
The incident underscores the ongoing debate over AI’s place in game development, the need for clearer policies, and the importance of maintaining open communication with both staff and consumers.