Saber Interactive denies replacing writer with AI
Stella Sacco, former lead writer at Saber Interactive (July 2023–July 2024), publicly claimed she was removed from leading the narrative direction of upcoming taxi simulator Rideshare Stimulator and replaced with ChatGPT partway through development. Sacco stated on social media that passenger voices were also generated using AI, and criticized the studio for not disclosing this on the game’s Steam page.
Saber Interactive’s response was contradictory: the studio denied replacing Sacco with ChatGPT while simultaneously admitting it used generative AI “by necessity” during Rideshare Stimulator’s development. In a statement, Saber asserted the game’s story was written “entirely by real people,” though the company did not clarify Sacco’s specific removal or the use of AI-generated passenger dialogue. CEO Matt Karc issued a combative response to Sacco’s claims, which she characterized as “remarkably pathetic.”
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the games industry regarding AI adoption, labor practices, and transparency. While Saber maintains that no human writer was replaced by an AI tool, the company’s acknowledgment of generative AI use alongside Sacco’s detailed account of her departure creates ambiguity about the project’s actual development process and creative attribution.
Sources
- Saber Interactive denies replacing writer with AI
- Space Marine 2 Maker Saber Interactive Denies Writer’s Claim They Were Replaced by ChatGPT, but Admits Rideshare Stimulator Will Feature AI ‘By Necessity’
- Saber CEO scorns writer who says she was fired in favor of AI with confusing, combative statement
- Saber admit Rideshare “Stimulator” features generative AI writing, but deny they replaced taxi game’s lead writer with ChatGPT
- Former Saber writer claims she was replaced by ChatGPT during development on its ridesharing game