After much anticipation and a public dispute, Saber Interactive has finally introduced an AI disclaimer to the Steam page of their game Rideshare Stimulator. This addition comes after the game’s initial availability for wishlisting on 30th July, which lacked any mention of AI involvement.
AI Disclaimer Added to Game Page
Initially, CEO Matthew Karch promised that the disclaimer would be included upon finalisation of the game. This promise has now been fulfilled as the store page has been updated with the necessary AI disclosure. This move follows Karch’s comments before the weekend, in which he mentioned the complexity of integrating AI, highlighting that it required the addition of two writers and several coders to work with the AI tools, resulting in higher costs than excluding these features.
Tensions Eased After CEO’s Apology
The AI-related controversy began with former writer Stella Sacco. Karch previously made a controversial statement saying he would have considered replacing Sacco with AI. This has since been diffused with Karch issuing a private apology, which Sacco acknowledged and accepted. Sacco expressed her unwillingness to dwell on the situation, stating, “God willing, this is the last statement I’ll need to make about this.”
Detailed AI Usage in the Game
The AI disclaimer now clarifies that the game’s central campaign storyline, characters, and dialogue are crafted entirely by human writers. AI tools have been utilised solely for tasks such as voice generation and certain localisation efforts. A noticeable distinction is made for the optional Free Ride mode, where AI-generated content is more prevalent, featuring AI-created passenger missions and localised dialogue. Players can choose to skip this AI-powered content if they wish to focus solely on the human-written narrative.
Furthermore, the game’s radio stations blend both human-produced and AI-generated music, with clear labelling distinguishing the AI-generated channels.
Opening the Dialogue on AI Integration
Karch has expressed a desire to engage in productive discussions about AI’s potential and its role in shaping gaming experiences. Despite acknowledging his PR team’s concerns about addressing AI, he remains an advocate for its integration. The CEO downplayed the controversy between him and Sacco as a “publicity stunt”, remarking that the company’s writing team has only expanded since Sacco’s departure three years ago. Karch wryly added that if the situation brought attention to Rideshare Stimulator, he might owe gratitude to Sacco for it.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.