Saber Interactive's announcement of AI integration in its upcoming satire game Rideshare Stimulator has ignited a public dispute involving CEO Matt Karch and a former lead writer, Stella Sacco. The controversy began when Sacco revealed she was abruptly removed from the project and replaced by AI tools with no prior disclosure on the game’s Steam page.
Initially, Saber denied these claims, but Karch escalated the situation by dismissing Sacco’s involvement, stating he had never met or spoken to her, and even indicated he would have been glad to replace her with AI. Soon after, he confirmed that generative AI was actively used in the game and explained that a detailed disclosure would appear on the Steam listing once finalized. This disclosure has now been posted, outlining how AI contributes to certain aspects of the game.
The updated Steam page clarifies that the main storyline, character development, and dialogue in Rideshare Stimulator are handled by a human writing team. AI, however, plays a significant role in several secondary features: voice generation, some localization tasks, an optional “Free Ride” mode featuring AI-generated passenger missions and dialogue, and designated in-game radio stations with AI-created music—all explicitly labeled for transparency.
Karch defended AI’s involvement in the Free Ride mode by revealing the unexpected resources required to collaborate with AI, including additional writers and coders. He argued that incorporating AI ultimately increased production costs compared to omitting the feature and asserted that AI should be embraced as a creative tool to enhance player experiences.
Meanwhile, Sacco shared that Karch privately sent her an extensive apology acknowledging his harsh public remarks and admitting he reacted impulsively. She accepted the apology but said she is still considering what restitution might entail. Despite this partial reconciliation, tensions remain high. During a public statement reflecting on his conduct, Karch criticized Portal writer Chet Faliszek, who had condemned Karch’s management of the situation via a lengthy YouTube video, where Faliszek labeled him an “unsuccessful writer.”
Further complicating the narrative, a LinkedIn exchange between Karch and Faliszek revealed sharp disagreements and pointed accusations. Karch accused Faliszek of making unfounded assumptions without proper inquiry and referenced mutual contacts within Saber Interactive to dispute Faliszek’s claims.