The developers of the upcoming indie game Drunken Goddess Reflux have canceled its planned demo for Steam Next Fest, citing concerns about the proliferation of generative AI. The game, which features a unique premise of surviving a night of drinking with an anime demon in a Russian Roulette-style format, has already garnered significant interest with over 25,000 wishlists on Steam.
Steam Next Fest, scheduled to run from October 19 to October 26, is a platform for developers to showcase playable demos of their upcoming titles. This event typically serves as a valuable tool for developers to publicize their games and attract wishlists, while allowing players to sample new titles for free.
Alliance Arts, the studio behind Drunken Goddess Reflux, announced its decision to withdraw the demo just days before the festival's commencement. In an apology to fans on X, the studio outlined two primary reasons for the cancellation. Firstly, they expressed an inability to effectively monitor gameplay footage and streams to ensure compliance with their publishing restrictions. Secondly, and more critically, they stated a belief that releasing a demo would enable other parties to swiftly create cloned versions of the game using generative AI.
The increasing use of AI in game development has become a significant point of contention within the industry. While AI tools can potentially accelerate development and enhance efficiency, they also facilitate the creation of game clones. The developers are concerned that AI-powered copycats could be completed and released before Drunken Goddess Reflux itself, potentially jeopardizing the game's market reception and success.
Despite the demo's cancellation, players will still have an opportunity to experience the game before its official launch. Interested individuals can apply for access to closed testing sessions through a form available on Who You's official Discord server. Drunken Goddess Reflux is slated for an official release on December 8.