11 Bit Studios, the developer behindThe Alters, has confirmed its use of generative AI content in the newly released sci-fi game but also simultaneously highlighted that it was done in a “very limited manner.” Since being released on June 13,The Altershas gone on to garner significant praise from critics and fans as well, especially prior to the ongoing AI row.
Survival titles likeThe Alters, which successfully incorporates the concept of cloning in a fun way, aren’t that common in gaming. As a result, a game like this can quickly gain widespread approval. It appears that’s how the journey ofThe Alters, which boasts a score of 86 on OpenCritic, has unfolded. However, theAI controversy surroundingThe Altershas been growingrecently, prompting the developer to finally release a public statement addressing the matter.
In a new Bluesky post, 11 Bit Studios admitted to using generative AI to create “temporary” work-in-progress assets forThe Alters. It was revealed that a placeholder texture containing AI-generated text had slipped into the game’s final build due to “an internal oversight.” The Polish studio also shared that AI was used for creating translations of a few in-game movies due to “extreme time constraints,” as they were introduced in the final phase of development. Reassuring the fans, 11 Bit Studios confirmed that these two instances were actively being remedied. Throughout its statement, the developer emphasized how these occurrences had “limited impact” and was “a small part” of the game’s scope, but also acknowledged that keeping the players in the dark about it was wrong. Interestingly, this marked the second time a studio had talked publicly about generative AI in its game within the space of a week after theJurassic World Evolutionteam issued a statementof its own.
The Alters Studio Issues Statement on Generative AI Controversy
In the comments under 11 Bit Studios’s announcement, people seemed less than pleased with the developer’s explanation. While some users thought that they should’ve simply used the “Lorem Ipsum” text for the placeholder, others believed that the players should’ve been told beforehand about the use of AI-created assets. What’s intriguing is thatSteam does have a policythat requires devs to disclose their use of AI-generated content on the store page. However, sinceThe Altersdoesn’t have any such disclosure, it could be assumed that the very limited use of AI-made content in the game may have played a role in the policy not being enforced.
Given that the early reaction to the aforementioned statement doesn’t seem too encouraging, it would be interesting to see howThe Altersteamnavigates its way through this controversy. Meanwhile, players can expect the AI-generated assets in the game to be replaced with human-made alternatives soon.
The Alters
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11 Bit Studios' The Alters is a sci-fi survival game with base-building elements. Stuck on a hostile planet, Jan Dolski must create copies of himself to try and survive, and they each have unique personalities and histories.
