Saber Interactive adds generative AI disclosure to Rideshare Stimulator after writer dispute

Saber Interactive has revised the Steam listing for the gig-work simulation game Rideshare Stimulator to include a disclosure about its use of generative AI. The update follows a public exchange between the game's former lead writer, Stella Sacco, and Saber CEO Matthew Karch, in which Sacco claimed she was replaced by ChatGPT during development.

Saber responded that the main campaign narrative, characters and dialogue were created by human writers, while AI tools were employed for voice generation, certain localization tasks, and an optional "Free Ride" mode that features AI-generated passenger missions. The company also noted that some in-game radio stations play AI-generated music, which is clearly labeled for players.

"The main Campaign story, characters, and dialogue are written by a team of human writers. AI tools are used for voice generation and some localization," the Steam disclosure states.

"The optional Free Ride mode includes AI-generated passenger missions and localized dialogue. Free Ride mode is separate from the main Campaign and can be skipped by players who prefer to experience only human-written narrative content," the notice adds.

"The game also includes a mix of radio stations featuring human-made music and AI-generated music. Stations containing AI-generated music are clearly labeled as such in the game," the disclosure continues.

The disagreement began when Sacco posted on Bluesky that she had been removed from the project and that ChatGPT was used to write remaining text, including planned live updates. Karch countered that no writers had been replaced by AI and that the AI components were limited to the free-ride mode, which required additional staff to manage. He also framed AI adoption as essential for the studio's competitiveness, saying "it's swim or die" for developers.

Industry observers note that the controversy reflects broader concerns about generative AI in game development, with some executives citing AI as a cost-saving measure while others emphasize its potential to enhance player experiences.