Saber Interactive denied allegations that it replaced former lead writer Stella Sacco with ChatGPT during the development of its upcoming driving title, Rideshare “Stimulator”, according to statements provided to PC Gamer. The dispute surfaced in August 2026 after Saber CEO Matthew Karch confirmed that the game’s trailer includes a hidden jab at Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford, prompting Sacco to allege on Bluesky that she was replaced on the project by ChatGPT midway through development.
Sacco Allegations and Corporate Pushback
According to social media posts published by Sacco, she discovered the game’s announcement in August 2026 and publicly stated that she had been removed from her position as lead writer midway through development. Sacco claimed that “one to two AI dummy higher-ups at Saber” mandated the integration of ChatGPT to generate the rest of the text and planned live updates, asserting that her boss had argued against the shift because she was “funny and she’s good at this”. In a December 2023 social media post shared alongside her Bluesky statements, Sacco noted that she had been replaced on one of her games at work by ChatGPT. Furthermore, she alleged that all the passenger voices were AI too.
Saber Interactive Official Response
Saber Interactive disputed Sacco’s claims in a formal statement to PC Gamer, asserting that neither the studio nor developer Unigine replaced any writers with AI for Rideshare “Stimulator” or any other game. The company stated that its staff of writers has tripled since 2023 and that the game’s story was written entirely by real people. While denying the replacement of writing personnel, Saber acknowledged that the game incorporates AI within an experimental, free-ride mode. The studio explained that AI tools are utilized to improve NPC behavior and enhance gameplay experiences because the number of passengers in the game is infinite.
Public Reaction and Industry Context
The conflicting accounts generated immediate blowback across platforms like YouTube and Steam, focusing largely on the alleged use of AI and the lack of disclosure on the game’s Steam page. The Steam store page for Rideshare “Stimulator” notes that each ride presents players with unique and unpredictable passenger stories, ensuring a diverse and engaging gameplay experience. Sacco maintained her account of the development timeline in subsequent statements to PC Gamer, emphasizing her firsthand involvement. Saber concluded its statement by emphasizing that its workforce exceeds 3,000 employees and that none of them have to worry about being replaced by AI.