Game Devs Face False AI Art Accusations

Game developers are routinely fending off false accusations of using generative AI for their art. Developers from New Blood Interactive, Failbetter Games, and Abandoned Sheep detailed these experiences in a report by Rock Paper Shotgun.

The Accusations Become Routine

Hannah Flynn, communications director for Fallen London and Sunless Skies developer Failbetter, says a new part of her job is addressing AI claims. "It’s a new development that if a video gets shared widely or we have a big announcement, we're guaranteed to get asked whether or not we're using genAI," she stated. Failbetter has a public statement swearing off generative AI. Flynn distinguishes between concerned community members and "social media fly-bys from people who don’t seem invested in our games or the studio."

New Blood Interactive CEO David Oshry faces similar claims. Regarding the horror game Tenebris Somnia, allegations have become "pretty much non stop" on social media, especially Instagram. Oshry shared that this is a recent phenomenon. "Even a year ago we saw very little of this," he said. The studio made a behind-the-scenes video to prove their art was handmade. Oshry suggested short-form video platforms have "genuinely fried people's brains."

Why Art Triggers Suspicion

The reasons artwork gets flagged as AI-generated vary. Flynn mused that Failbetter's "painterly art style" and its "eldritch horror" elements, like too many eyes or fingers, might read as generated. "AI images are trained on classical styles, which turns around on you when you're using a classical style to create by hand," she explained.

For Abandoned Sheep's game Schrodinger's Cat Burglar, an older key art piece was repeatedly called out. Studio director Martin Binfield said the hand-painted art was made in mid-2022. He believes commenters thought it looked "unnaturally polished," citing airbrushing and reflections. The studio replaced the art, partly because it needed a refresh after four years. "I don't begrudge those commenters for their vigilance," Binfield commented.

David Oshry expressed bafflement over accusations against Tenebris Somnia's blend of pixel art and live-action film. "I think people may have honestly forgotten or are too young to know about practical monster makeup and VFX," he said. Oshry added he's seen people claim GTA 6 looks like AI. "I think we've all just clearly lost the plot and hopefully a meteor will strike the earth soon," he concluded.

The Unexpected Outcomes

Despite the exhaustion, these incidents can have silver linings. Oshry noted that the engagement from the AI controversy drove up wishlists for Tenebris Somnia, adding 15,000 in one week. He also said committed fans often defend the studio in comments. "But we would rather be making cool content ABOUT THE GAME rather than making content proving it's NOT AI SLOP," he stated.

For Failbetter, the conversation has thematic resonance. Flynn said the meaning of made things is a sub-theme of their current project, Mandrake. "It feels on point to talk about, and maybe leads to more people spreading the word!" she said. Martin Binfield of Abandoned Sheep affirmed his studio's stance. "We as a studio have never and will never use generative AI," he said, agreeing with the 'AI art? No sale' sentiment.