The developer behind Rideshare ‘Stimulator’ has been accused of replacing a lead writer with ChatGPT, as the threat of AI continues.
The use of generative AI in game development has been a sensitive issue for some time, but it hasn’t stopped developers from adopting the tool anyway.
Games like Call Of Duty have proudly used generative AI artwork, while others like Crimson Desert and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have used it to make temporary assets – which have had to be patched out after being ‘accidentally’ left in the final release.
The concern is that generative AI could be used to replace actual artists, and according to one developer, that happened on an upcoming new title from Saber Interactive.
Last week, Saber Interactive revealed a driving sim game called Rideshare ‘Stimulator’, where you play as a taxi driver who is trying to build up his business by driving smoothly and engaging in ‘stimulating’ conversations.
The trailer has an off-kilter tone to emphasise the odd passengers you’ll encounter, with the dialogue clearly playing a key role in its appeal.
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In a post on Bluesky following Rideshare ‘Stimulator’s reveal, narrative designer Stella Sacco claimed she worked as a lead writer on the game, but was replaced by ChatGPT.
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. Either they changed direction at some point or they’re not disclosing it on Steam
‘I didn’t even see this had been announced,’ she wrote. ‘I was lead writer on this one! And Saber replaced me with ChatGPT midway through development. All the passenger voices were AI too.
‘Either they changed direction at some point or they’re not disclosing it on Steam.’
Sacco also shared an old social media post from December 2023, where she had written, ‘I got replaced on one of my games at work. By ChatGPT.’
According to Sacco’s LinkedIn profile, she was employed at Saber Interactive as a lead writer from July 2023 to July 2024, where she worked on Stuntman Hollywood and ‘other games’.
Rideshare ‘Stimulator’ is developed by Unigine and published by Saber Interactive, and in a follow-up post, Sacco said the decision to replace her was made by ‘one to two AI dummy higher-ups at Saber’, clarifying that she had no issue with developer Unigine.
Additionally, she claimed Saber wanted to use AI because ‘gamers love new tech’ so using the tool would be ‘great marketing’. Which is so out of touch it would make an Xbox exec blanch.
