Mages Inc., the studio behind the well-regarded Steins;Gate visual novel series, is venturing into the first-person shooter genre with Juggernaut, a free-to-play title that heavily utilizes generative AI for its assets. The game is described as a "boomer shooter" reminiscent of older Wolfenstein-style games, featuring players engaging large waves of zombies in distinctly pixellated arenas. Its visual presentation is noted as unremarkable among modern retro shooters.
Juggernaut's development includes a significant reliance on artificial intelligence. According to its AI disclosure, 100% of the source code and effects were generated by AI, with 60% of graphics and 50% of sound also attributed to AI. This approach has led some Steam users to question the studio's commitment to the project, with one user expressing that if the developers do not appear invested in the game's creation, they see no reason to care about it.
Accompanying the game's release will be the Juggernaut Assets Maker, a separate paid tool that also uses generative AI for its source code. This tool is intended to allow players to create their own levels and incorporate custom assets, with the Steam page encouraging users to "Make it more Japanese" and "Make it sexier."
Mages Inc., with over two decades of experience and a catalog including the highly-rated Steins;Gate visual novels, is known for a different genre. The studio's foray into the FPS space with such a prominent use of AI raises questions about the balance between AI-generated content and traditional development practices. While many games released on Steam feature AI-generated elements, few studios have been as transparent as Mages Inc. has been with Juggernaut's asset breakdown. The long-term impact of heavily AI-driven games on game discovery algorithms, particularly on platforms like Steam, remains a developing aspect of the industry.