As we get flooded with endless amounts of AI content slop, some developers try to be cheeky about it, to shameful results.
At this point, we all know of the dangers of generative AI. It can cause cognitive atrophy, psychosis, and even death. But large language models have also made massive advancements in the world of programming. An extremely tedious and monotonous task, coding for video games has benefitted greatly from it. Most recently, cases like the decompilation of software to make it run in hardware it was never intended to work on have surfaced online. Even with all these seemingly useful perks, it is clear people don’t want it. Hell, I don’t want it. Developers know this, so it is increasingly hilarious how they either walk on eggshells or try to be cheeky about their usage of Steam’s AI content disclosure.
I don’t like to revel in other people’s misfortunes. Thankfully, this is not the case. These developers did it to themselves. They decided to use this tool to cut corners, choosing to “optimize” instead of learning the hard way, like thousands of other developers before them. This is why I do not have an ounce of sympathy for them. And so, I picked this lane: sharing the most embarrassing disclosures out there. Jumping through hoops, finding nonexistent excuses, and being way too bold are some examples you’ll see below.
To be honest, I wish we did not have to deal with this barrage of GenAI slop, considering how difficult it is for indies to break through the noise. But now we’re in the eye of the hurricane. So the least we can do is laugh at them. For obvious reasons, I will not link these games’ Steam pages and will likely add more over time. Spoiler Alert: it will not go down well for them.
Have fun.
Forged Cards
Solo developers have become this mythical creature that do everything for themselves. As such, they exploit this for sympathy. I’m sorry, buddy, but if Eric Barone took 5 years to make Stardew Valley, I’m sure you can do so too without cutting corners.
Catnap: Cozy Cat Home
Beautiful art is what makes people gravitate towards a game. Every little detail, from textures to sound effects, is the difference between a memorable game and one you will not even engage with. As cozy as it may sound.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7
Black Ops 7 is a well documented catastrophe by now, but this angers me to no end for several reasons. 1. It’s quite literally the biggest shooter in the world. 2. Do they not have money to pay their developers? 3. It’s just lazy. I don’t think I’m ever touching this franchise again. Heard Sprawl Zero was a pretty great FPS.
Aion 2
Another case of a massive game, in this case an MMO, using generative AI to cut corners. Fantasy landscapes give us the opportunity to experience the wonders of imagination. What a waste to squander it on a regurgitating machine that does not think.
Mayhem Duck Simulator
This one is just oddly specific. Why go so far in development to then pivot and use generative AI music? A good soundtrack can truly elevate a game in every regard. But not in this case.
Neural Drift
Look, I appreciate the honesty, but if you put this much “manual effort” into it, why not go the whole way?
No Man’s Mines
We are all fully aware that making games is hard. Like, insanely difficult. That is why every time I interview a developer for my Little Victories podcast, they all agree that you just have to be a tiny bit crazy to pursue this career. And this dev is citing “a reasonable timeframe” to launch a game? I think you can do better than that.
Sharma Ji’s Shop
When a game is this vague about their use of GenAI, I will simply assume that all of it was done with it.
Be A Pirate!
This one boggles the mind. You’re saying that big companies don’t care about the joy of making and playing games, yet you rely on generative AI so heavily? Make it make sense.
Alien’s Fridge
Full disclosure: English is my second language. I am a translator. So this particular disclosure annoys me more than most. Simply asking a machine to translate to 80+ languages like it’s nothing will make it lose its nuance in the process. There’s a reason they say translating is interpreting. If you have no soul, you have no game.
Legend of the Godslayer
So, no content was used randomly? That does not make it any better, man. Many of us can clock a generative AI image from a mile away, and absolutely hate it. You may use fancy words, but the work speaks for itself.
We’re Gonna Need More Fireballs
Recently I wrote about a game called EbiTapes that has a lot of heart, and uses an art style that looks drawn by children. That is infinitely better than whatever AI content the developer is using here.
Active Matter
Closing out with the worst of them all, some people say that because the game’s humor is tongue-in-cheek, this is fair play. I’m sorry? If you’re going to come across as this immature, know that I will never even get close to trying your game.
A website called the AI Transparency Index currently mentions 26 thousand AI content disclosures on Steam. Unfortunately, things are only going to get worse. And I will be here to call them out. Why would anybody try to think this would work? The answer is beyond me.
To wrap up, I hear you through the screen. “Why aren’t you instead focusing on indies that do not use generative AI?” Well, you’re in luck because that is literally what I do every week, so be sure to check Pixel Byte for thoughtful game recommendations. To highlight a few worthy demos for this Steam Next Fest, give Beastfolk Barber, Curse of Resthaven, Queen’s Domain, Prison of Husks, and The Regreening a look. Have a good one.
