Saber Interactive Updates Rideshare Stimulator Steam Page Following AI Controversy
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Saber Interactive updated the Steam page for Rideshare Stimulator to detail its use of generative AI following a public controversy over developer layoffs and studio comments.
As reported by Polygon, Saber Interactive has finally updated the Steam page for Rideshare Stimulator to include a detailed disclosure regarding its use of generative artificial intelligence during development. This update brings a chaotic week of public backlash and executive fallout to a close, highlighting ongoing tensions around AI adoption in game production.
The controversy began on August 11 when former developer Stella Sacco posted on Bluesky alleging that Saber replaced her with ChatGPT midway through development. The situation quickly escalated when Saber CEO Matthew Karch offered a combative statement to This Week In Video Games, insulting Sacco and stating that he would have been happy to replace her with AI in hindsight. Following further inquiries from outlets like Game File, studio representatives offered a more measured clarification, denying that writers were entirely replaced while confirming the technology's presence in the project.
The newly added Steam disclosure attempts to draw a clear line between human and machine contributions. According to the storefront page, the main campaign story, characters, and dialogue are written by a human team. However, AI tools were utilized for voice generation and specific localization tasks. The optional Free Ride mode relies on AI-generated passenger missions and localized dialogue, though players can skip this mode entirely to experience strictly human-written content. Additionally, the game features a mix of radio stations, with AI-generated music tracks clearly labeled for players.
Sacco also noted that Saber finally revoked her access to an old development build on Steam, an oversight that persisted years after her layoff. For players navigating modern digital storefronts, transparency remains a major talking point. This entire saga shows that studios need to be upfront about AI tools from day one rather than waiting for public pressure to force their hand.
Tags: Industry News, PC Gaming, Steam, Artificial Intelligence
Original article: Polygon