Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding an explicit artificial‑intelligence disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of criticism surrounding claims that the company had dismissed a human writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s listing, is intended to clarify the studio’s current stance on AI usage and to address the controversy that erupted when former employee Stella Sacco alleged that her role had been eliminated mid‑development and that her responsibilities were handed over to ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI tools. The full 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 the wake of Sacco’s statements, Karch responded publicly, saying that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and he added, "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." He went on to say, "Stella who?
I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," during an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames. Karch also mentioned that the studio had already disclosed that AI would be employed for certain aspects of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalized.
"We view our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a benefit for consumers," he asserted. The dispute escalated when Sacco posted on the social network 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 later issued a separate public comment on LinkedIn, in which he admitted, "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." The controversy touches on several broader industry trends. First, the increasing reliance on large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and others to generate in‑game dialogue, marketing copy, and even narrative design.
While many studios tout AI as a cost‑saving and efficiency‑boosting tool, critics argue that it can undermine the role of professional writers, lead to homogenized content, and raise ethical concerns about attribution and compensation. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the allegation that a writer was removed specifically to make room for AI generated a heated debate about whether AI should ever replace a human author in a creative capacity. Second, the incident highlights the importance of transparent communication with both employees and the public.
When Sacco first raised the issue, she claimed that her termination was linked directly to the decision to replace her with a machine‑learning system. Karch’s initial reaction, as captured in his LinkedIn post, suggested a defensive posture that many observers found unprofessional. By later adding the AI disclaimer to the Steam page, Saber appears to be attempting to rectify the lack of clarity, but the timing—after the dispute became public—has led some to view the move as reactive rather than proactive.
Third, the situation raises legal and contractual questions. Employment agreements in the gaming sector often include confidentiality clauses, but they rarely address the specifics of AI substitution. If a writer’s contract does not explicitly forbid replacement by AI, the legal footing for a claim may be murky.
However, the moral argument remains potent: dismissing a creative professional in favor of an algorithm can be seen as devaluing human expertise, especially when the decision is communicated without prior notice or discussion. From a consumer perspective, the AI disclaimer may affect how players perceive the authenticity of the game’s narrative and world‑building. Rideshare Simulator aims to simulate the day‑to‑day experience of a rideshare driver, incorporating realistic dialogue, scenario branching, and cultural nuance. Players who value immersive storytelling might be concerned that AI‑generated text could lack the subtlety and emotional depth a seasoned writer provides.
Conversely, some players may appreciate the rapid iteration and potential for more varied content that AI can deliver, especially in a lower‑priced title where budgets are tighter. Industry analysts note that this is not the first high‑profile clash over AI in game development. Earlier this year, a major studio faced backlash after revealing that a significant portion of its NPC dialogue was produced by an AI model, prompting calls for clearer labeling.
The pattern suggests that studios will need to develop standardized policies for AI disclosure, similar to how they currently label the use of motion‑capture technology or procedural generation. In the aftermath of the dispute, Saber Interactive has pledged to monitor the situation closely and to keep the community informed about any further AI‑related updates. The company’s leadership has also indicated that they will review internal processes to ensure that future decisions about AI integration are communicated transparently and that staff are given the opportunity to voice concerns before any changes are made. Overall, the episode serves as a cautionary tale for developers navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
While AI offers undeniable advantages—speed, scalability, and the ability to generate large volumes of text—it also brings challenges related to ethics, employee relations, and audience trust. As the technology matures, studios like Saber Interactive will need to strike a balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and preserving the creative contributions of human writers, all while maintaining open lines of communication with both their teams and their players. The added disclaimer on the Steam page now reads, in plain language, that certain portions of Rideshare Simulator’s content were produced with the assistance of AI tools, and that the studio will update the page as the feature set is finalized. Whether this move will satisfy critics or simply placate a portion of the community remains to be seen, but it undeniably marks a new chapter in the ongoing conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in interactive entertainment.