A Rollercoaster of AI: The Great Games Debate
In a plot twist worthy of a blockbuster, the boss of a certain beloved video game studio has found himself dodging digital tomatoes after revealing the use of generative AI to noodle around early game concepts. Yes, the world was treated to this jaw-dropper during an exciting chat with the oh-so-formal Bloomberg, right after the dramatic unveiling of the latest addition to the Divinity universe.
According to the head honcho, the AI was brought in to help brainstorm ideas, jazz up PowerPoint presentations, whip up concept art, and even generate some placeholder text. However, before visions of robot overlords putting artists out of a job could take root, he reassured everyone that no machine-generated masterpieces would be gracing the final product and that “everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we’re using it.”
Artists vs. AI: Let the Games Begin!
Naturally, the internet didn’t hold back. Players and disgruntled ex-developers took to the pixels, expressing their outrage on social media as if they were auditioning for a role in *Angry Birds*. To address the digital uproar, the maestro himself felt compelled to issue a follow-up manifesto, because apparently, social media isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the need for clarity.
“Holy f*** guys, we’re not ‘pushing hard’ for, or replacing concept artists with AI,” the CEO declared, feeling like a knight defending his realm against a siege of misunderstandings. He explained that the studio employs a robust team of 72 artists—23 of whom are concept artists—and guess what? They’re hiring more! As one can imagine, the originality of their creations is a source of pride for him, like a parent bragging about their kid’s perfect report card.
Just a Tool, Nothing to See Here
In his defense, he clarified: “I was asked about concept art and our use of Gen AI. I answered that we use it to explore things. I didn’t say we use it to develop concept art. The artists do that. And they are indeed world-class artists.” One might wonder if a subtle “please don’t hurt the hard-working creatives” was woven between those lines.
With the eloquence of a skilled diplomat, he continued: “We use AI tools to explore references, just like we use Google and art books. In those early brainstorming phases, it serves as a rough outline for composition, which is promptly replaced with original concept art. There is no comparison.” As if suggesting that comparing AI to actual artists is like comparing apples to a very confused orange.
The Drama Unfolds: More Statements, More Opinions
In yet another clarifying moment, the studio head explained to a different outlet that they’re neither launching any AI-laden games nor planning to downsize the workforce in favor of circuits and code. “While I understand it’s a subject that invokes a lot of emotion,” he wrote, “it’s something we are constantly discussing internally, through the lens of making everyone’s working day better, not worse.” A noble quest indeed!
As it turns out, generative AI is not just a passing fad in the gaming world. According to recent studies, the number of Steam games proudly waving the “We Use Generative AI!” flag skyrocketed by an outrageous 800% this summer alone. That’s right—almost 8,000 titles are now proudly announcing their AI affiliations, up from just 1,000 a year ago. Imagine the applications: “Your next favorite game is brought to you by the power of algorithms and a questionable amount of caffeine!”
Ultimately, the dialogue around AI in creative spaces will continue to swirl, just like coffee in a craftsman’s favorite mug. Buckle up, game fans; the debate is just getting started!
