Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of controversy surrounding allegations that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The new notice, posted directly on the game’s Steam page, is intended to clarify the studio’s current and future use of AI tools within the project and to address the concerns raised by former employee Stella Sacco. The full wording 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." The statement goes on to explain that the studio is now being transparent about any AI‑assisted content and will update the Steam page once the feature set is finalised.
The controversy began when Sacco, who served as a lead writer on Rideshare Simulator, publicly claimed that she was taken off the project part‑way through its development cycle and that her responsibilities were handed over to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. She also suggested that additional, undisclosed AI tools had been employed throughout the game's creation.
In response, Matt Karch, the chief executive of Saber Interactive, issued a series of comments that both defended the studio’s decisions and hinted at a willingness to use AI in the future. Karch’s initial reaction was blunt. He asserted that Sacco had "been replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added, "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." He later clarified his position in an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, stating, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." Karch emphasised that the company had already disclosed its use of AI for certain aspects of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the final AI‑related features were locked in.
He framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, especially for a lower‑priced title like Rideshare Simulator, describing it as "a plus for consumers." The situation escalated when Sacco posted on the social networking platform BlueSky over the weekend, noting 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." Karch also took to LinkedIn to issue a more personal statement, acknowledging his own emotional response to the unfolding drama.
"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 wrote. "It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." The broader industry context adds another layer to the story. As AI language models become increasingly capable, many game developers are experimenting with them for everything from dialogue generation to procedural content creation.
However, the ethical and legal implications of replacing human writers with AI remain hotly debated. Critics argue that AI‑generated text can lack the nuance, cultural sensitivity, and creative spark that a seasoned writer brings, while proponents point to cost savings and faster iteration cycles. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the game's modest price point and niche focus on ride‑hailing economics may have encouraged Saber Interactive to explore AI as a cost‑effective solution. Yet the backlash from Sacco highlights a potential misstep: the lack of clear communication with staff and the public about how AI would be integrated.
The studio’s subsequent decision to place a disclaimer on the Steam page appears to be an attempt to regain trust and demonstrate transparency. From a legal perspective, the dismissal of a writer under the pretext of performance while simultaneously substituting her work with AI could raise questions about employment contracts, intellectual property rights, and the attribution of creative content. If a piece of dialogue is generated by ChatGPT, who owns the rights?
Does the writer who originally crafted the narrative retain any claim? These are unresolved issues that many studios, including Saber, will need to navigate as AI becomes more entrenched in the development pipeline. Looking ahead, Karch’s apology and the added disclaimer may serve as a cautionary tale for other developers.
Open communication about AI usage, clear policies for staff, and a willingness to address concerns promptly can help mitigate reputational damage. For Sacco, accepting the apology does not necessarily close the chapter; she may still seek clarification on the specifics of her termination and any potential compensation for work that was later replaced by AI.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Rideshare Simulator Steam page reflects an effort to be transparent after a public dispute involving former writer Stella Sacco. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologized, acknowledging his impulsive reaction to criticism, while also emphasizing that AI can be a consumer benefit for lower‑priced titles. The incident underscores the growing pains the gaming industry faces as it integrates AI tools, highlighting the need for clear policies, ethical considerations, and open dialogue between developers, writers, and the gaming community.