Insomniac Games has addressed speculation surrounding the use of generative artificial intelligence in its upcoming title, Marvel's Wolverine. The developer has categorically denied these claims following the discovery of a peculiar-looking bathroom sign within the game, which sparked fan discussion about potential AI asset generation.
James Stevenson, Insomniac's community and marketing director, clarified that the unusual appearance of the sign is due to a "UV map bug." He stated on Twitter that there are "no AI-generated assets in Marvel’s Wolverine" and confirmed that a fix for the issue is currently in development. This statement directly refutes the notion that generative AI was employed in the creation of any game assets.
While Insomniac Games utilized machine learning to streamline development in its previous release, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the studio appears to be maintaining a clear distinction between machine learning tools and generative AI for asset creation at this time. The studio intends to continue using machine learning for development efficiency moving forward.
Marvel's Wolverine, released on September 15, has seen significant commercial success, reportedly surpassing the lifetime sales figures of Death Stranding 2 on PS5 shortly after its launch. GameSpot's review of Marvel's Wolverine awarded it an 8/10, with reviewer Tamoor Hussain describing the experience as "fun but forgettable" for a few hours.
The use of generative AI in game development is becoming more prevalent across the industry. Activision's Call of Duty series and Sega's upcoming Crazy Taxi: World Tour are among the titles that have incorporated generative AI technology.