Saber Interactive has included an AI disclaimer for the game Rideshare on the Steam platform. Additionally, CEO Matt Karch has issued an apology to the former lead writer.

Gameplay from Rideshare Simulator. A man with a red suitcase hails an orange SUV with a 'The Verve' logo on the side while standing on a sidewalk next to a bus stop, with a grand building in the background.

Image credit: Saber Interactive

In response to a recent controversy, Saber Interactive has updated the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator to include a disclaimer about the use of AI in the game. This move comes amid allegations that the company had replaced a human writer on the project with AI-generated content.

The disclaimer notes that the game's main storyline, characters, and dialogues are crafted by human writers. However, AI technology is utilized for voice production and some translation tasks. Additionally, the Free Ride mode, which is an optional feature separate from the primary campaign, consists of AI-generated passenger missions and dialogues, giving players the choice to focus solely on human-written stories if they prefer.

The game offers a variety of radio stations featuring both human-created and AI-generated music. Stations with AI content are distinctly marked within the game.

This development follows remarks from Saber CEO Matt Karch concerning Stella Sacco, who had been with Saber from July 2023 to July 2024. Sacco claimed she was discharged from the Rideshare Simulator project partway through development and alleged that her role was assigned to ChatGPT. Karch countered these claims by stating Sacco was replaced by someone deemed more skilled and that she was let go for various reasons. He also commented that he would have willingly opted for AI as a replacement in retrospect.

Karch further expressed that the integration of AI is perceived as advantageous for gamers, especially since the game will be offered at a reduced price point. In a conversation with This Week In Videogames, Karch explained his decision-making process and mentioned future updates to the game's Steam page to include finalized features.

According to a BlueSky post, Sacco mentioned that Karch offered an apology for his previous comments about her. She acknowledged that he intended to amend the situation, although she was uncertain about what this would entail and stated that she needs time to fully grasp the implications of his apology.

Karch also made a public statement on LinkedIn, admitting he overreacted to later comments and reconsidered his response method. He highlighted that as a human, errors happen, and he is taking steps to resolve the situation.