Developer Panache Digital Games has apologized after players discovered generative AI assets in the prologue for their upcoming game, 1666: Amsterdam.
The game, helmed by Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Desilets, was recently showcased with a narrative teaser trailer during Summer Game Fest. Following the reveal, a playable prologue was released on Steam to introduce players to the game's world. However, players quickly noticed visual anomalies, prompting the studio to investigate.
In a statement posted on Reddit, Panache Digital Games acknowledged the use of AI. "A number of people have raised questions or concerns to us about whether assets in our marketing and game use generative AI," the studio wrote. "We have a dedicated team of over a dozen talented and experienced artists. With them, we looked into the assets in question and found that there were indeed some early versions of assets that made their way into the prologue. This includes some in-game portraits and external marketing assets."
The studio stated that human-made versions of these assets will be released in an upcoming update. "We own up to this oversight and apologize for any upset caused. Please be assured that the Early Access and full game will not include any assets generated by AI."
While the developer asserts that final versions of the game will not contain AI-generated content, the admission itself has drawn scrutiny. The circumstances suggest that the use of AI in game development is becoming more prevalent, particularly during major promotional periods like Summer Game Fest, leading to increased player vigilance and developer apologies.
The use of AI in creative fields remains a contentious issue, with debates surrounding its impact on artistic integrity and the potential displacement of human artists. For 1666: Amsterdam, the developer's acknowledgment of AI's presence, even in early iterations, has already tempered some of the initial enthusiasm surrounding its stylish presentation.