According to reports from PC Gamer and The Verge, Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch has denied allegations that the studio replaced its lead writer on the upcoming game Rideshare “Stimulator” with ChatGPT. The dispute involves former lead writer Stella Sacco, who stated on Bluesky that she was ousted midway through development, igniting a public debate over labor practices and generative artificial intelligence disclosures on Valve’s Steam platform.
Stella Sacco’s Allegations and the December 2023 Timeline
According to Stella Sacco, who served as lead writer from July 2023 to July 2024 according to her LinkedIn account cited by GamesReviews.com, she was removed from the project and replaced by ChatGPT. Sacco stated on Bluesky that she did not even know the game had been announced until recently, adding that passenger voices in the game were also generated by AI. Sacco pointed to a social media post from December 21, 2023, where she originally wrote, “I got replaced on one of my games at work. By ChatGPT.” Sacco told PC Gamer and The Verge that the decision came from corporate leadership, noting that her direct boss argued against the move.
Saber Interactive’s Response and AI Usage Clarification
According to a statement provided to PC Gamer and The Verge, Saber CEO Matthew Karch disputed Sacco’s employment claims, stating that neither Saber nor developer Unigine replaced any writers with AI for Rideshare “Stimulator” or any other title. The studio countered that its internal writing staff has tripled since 2023 and that the game’s core story was written entirely by real people. However, Saber acknowledged that the game includes an experimental free-ride mode that incorporates AI to handle an infinite number of passengers. Karch emphasized that the company uses AI tools to enhance gameplay and NPC behavior, a practice the studio has maintained since its founding in 2001, and added that none of its over 3,000 employees face replacement by AI.
Steam Storefront Scrutiny and AI Disclosure Rules
According to GamesReviews.com, the controversy has drawn scrutiny to Valve’s policies regarding generative artificial intelligence on Steam. Valve requires developers to disclose whether generative AI was used in the creation process of titles distributed on Steam. Rideshare “Stimulator” promises unique and unpredictable passenger stories on its Steam listing, yet the page lacks any formal AI content disclosure. This omission has sparked community threads on Steam and YouTube discussions, echoing similar controversies earlier in the year involving titles like Crimson Desert.
Industry Labor Concerns and Future Implications
According to follow-up statements provided to The Verge, Sacco criticized Saber’s defense, arguing that a studio cannot claim human writers penned the story while simultaneously admitting that computers generate in-game text for rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Rideshare Stimulator?
According to GamesReviews.com and The Verge, the driving simulation game is developed by Unigine and published by Saber Interactive.
What did Stella Sacco claim regarding her departure?
According to PC Gamer, Sacco stated that she was removed from her role as lead writer midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT.
How did Saber Interactive respond to the claims?
According to PC Gamer and The Verge, CEO Matthew Karch denied that any writers were replaced by AI, stating that the story was written by humans while confirming that AI is used in the free-ride mode to manage an infinite number of passengers.
Does the game disclose its use of AI on Steam?
According to GamesReviews.com, the Steam store page for Rideshare “Stimulator” currently features no disclosure regarding generative AI.
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