Saber Interactive has denied allegations that it replaced a lead writer with ChatGPT on its upcoming driving sim Rideshare 'Stimulator', but confirmed the game does use generative AI in other areas. The denial comes after narrative designer Stella Sacco claimed she was replaced by the AI tool midway through development.
Allegations from former lead writer
In a post on Bluesky following the game's reveal, Sacco said she worked as lead writer on the project but was replaced by ChatGPT. She wrote: 'I didn’t even see this had been announced. I was lead writer on this one! And Saber replaced me with ChatGPT midway through development. All the passenger voices were AI too.'
Sacco also shared a December 2023 social media post where she wrote, 'I got replaced on one of my games at work. By ChatGPT.' Her LinkedIn profile shows she was employed at Saber Interactive as a lead writer from July 2023 to July 2024, working on Stuntman Hollywood and 'other games'.
Saber's response
In a statement to PC Gamer, Saber Interactive said: 'Neither Saber nor Unigine have replaced any writers with AI for Rideshare or any other game. In fact, Saber’s staff of writers has tripled since 2023. Rideshare’s story was written entirely by real people.'
The statement added: 'The game will also feature an experimental, free-ride mode that by necessity incorporates AI as the number of passengers in the game is infinite. We are firm believers in using AI tools to improve or enhance gameplay experiences and improve NPC behaviour as we have done since Saber was founded in 2001.'
Sacco has since branded the statement as 'nonsense', claiming the publisher took her 'off the project to use ChatGPT to write the rest of the text' and 'planned live updates'. She added: 'If they changed plans in the intervening years, that’s great, but again: I was there, and it was my job to write the game, and then it wasn’t once [Saber CEO] Matt Karch decided using ChatGPT would be great publicity for the game.'
Context and other controversies
The game, developed by Unigine and published by Saber Interactive, has also attracted attention for an intentional dig at Gearbox president Randy Pitchford, referencing a 2018 incident involving 'barely legal' porn on a USB stick. Karch told Game File the digs were included because Pitchford 'took shots' at Embracer, which previously owned both Saber and Gearbox.
At the time of writing, there is no AI disclosure on the game's Steam page.
