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Saber Confirms Trailer Jab at Gearbox as Writer Alleges ChatGPT Replacement

The CEO’s admission of an intentional reference to Randy Pitchford has been followed by disputed claims that Saber used generative AI for passenger dialog and by questions over missing Steam disclosure.

Overview

  • Saber CEO Matt Karch confirmed in mid-August that the Rideshare ‘Stimulator’ trailer includes a deliberate license-plate reference to Randy Pitchford as payback for perceived digs in Borderlands 4.
  • The trailer shows a Texas plate reading “USB DRV” with a gear symbol, a clear nod to Pitchford’s 2018 USB‑drive episode that later featured in lawsuits and reporting.
  • Former Saber lead writer Stella Sacco posted that she was removed from the project and replaced by ChatGPT, a claim Saber denies while acknowledging the game will use generative AI for an experimental free‑ride mode.
  • Reporters and outlets found that Saber’s Steam store page does not currently include the generative‑AI disclosure Valve requires for shipped in‑game content, prompting scrutiny of the studio’s transparency and guardrails.
  • The dispute ties to a longer history: both studios were once owned by Embracer, and the episode raises concrete questions about how studios will balance AI tools, writer jobs, and required consumer disclosures going forward.