Generative AI
Ongoing coverage on Generative AI.
Latest coverage
Epic AI Change Sparks Massive Fight Over AI/Vibe Coding
Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney announced a significant pivot towards "maximum AI acceleration," aiming to increase AI use in development and bring benefits to Unreal Engine users. This move has sparked a heated debate within the gaming industry, with figures like artist Kenney Vleugels criticizing the embrace of AI, while an Xbox strategy manager argues that ignoring AI means planning for a "fake future."
Japan Actors Union announces guidelines addressing unauthorised use of generative AI to replicate voice performances
The Japan Actors Union has released new guidelines addressing the unauthorized use of generative AI for voice replication. The framework recommends obtaining consent at all stages of AI model training and performance replication, with specific provisions for deceased actors and automatic translations. The union aims to establish these as industry-wide rules and push for government legislation to protect 'voice rights'.
ReVamp’s October 29 Test Will Start With Discord Invites
Digital Sun has shifted the initial playtest for its upcoming game ReVamp from Steam to a limited Discord-based access starting October 29. The studio cited concerns about game builds being copied before release, potentially due to generative AI, as the reason for delaying a wider public test, now hoped for around January. A full launch is scheduled for March 25, 2027.
"Too big a risk": Moonlighter devs delay new game's demo for fear of genAI cloning, calling on platforms to "keep strengthening protections for original work"
Digital Sun Games, developers of Moonlighter and Cataclismo, have delayed the public Steam playtest for their new game ReVamp due to concerns about generative AI cloning their work. The studio fears their game could be replicated before its release, highlighting a growing trend of AI-driven game cloning and calling for stronger platform protections.
Battlefield 6 Dev Owns Up To Mistakes With Strange-Looking Cosmetics, But Stays Silent On Possible AI Use
Battlefield Studios has acknowledged player feedback regarding unusual cosmetic items in Battlefield 6, admitting mistakes with some designs like the "SECUTY" typo. While the developer did not confirm or deny the use of generative AI, they are reviewing internal processes to improve quality control. The article also notes that other companies like Activision are using AI, and Microsoft executive Brandon Stirrup commented on the industry's general acceptance of the technology despite player apprehension.
Xbox business manager says devs not using AI shouldn't "be in the business of being a business" – because he "vibe coded a bad but improvable game in 2 days"
Xbox business manager Brandon Stirrup stated that game developers not using generative AI should reconsider their business. Stirrup claims he created an improvable game in two days using 'vibe coding' and believes AI is essential for future development, asserting that studios refusing AI are not truly in the business of being a business. The article counters this by highlighting successful games like Palworld that did not heavily rely on AI.
Steam Next Fest 2026 has more than double the number of demos than last year, but how much of it is generative 'AI slop'?
Steam Next Fest 2026 features over 8,000 game demos, but concerns are rising about the prevalence of generative AI 'slop' and its impact on discoverability and plagiarism. Developers are worried about their work being imitated, as seen with the cancellation of Drunken Goddess Reflux's demo. Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is receiving positive reviews on Steam for its campaign, a stark contrast to previous entries.
Sega pulls Total War Shogun 2 Complete Edition and returns the original title after furious fan backlash
Sega and Creative Assembly have removed Total War: Shogun 2 - Complete Edition from sale and reinstated the original 2011 title following intense fan backlash. Players criticized the remaster for its use of generative AI in visuals, reported bugs, and poor performance. The companies acknowledged the issues and are investigating improvements for the Complete Edition's eventual return.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various essays and critical pieces, touching on interactive fiction tools like Twine, the complexities of identity and geopolitics, film analysis of "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," the nature of horror in media, transgender rights, and the societal and environmental impacts of generative AI.
As too much of the industry embrace their own death through genAI, Konami say it's real people that are most important for making good games
Konami Digital Entertainment president Hideki Hayakawa stated that human creators are the most important factor in producing entertaining and innovative video games, rather than generative AI. While acknowledging AI's potential for production efficiency, he believes the "chemical reaction" from diverse developers working together cannot be easily replaced. This stance contrasts with the widespread adoption of AI in the industry.
We have reached a new threshold in genAI gloom, with a game dev cancelling a demo for fear of copycats ripping them off before release
Alliance Arts has cancelled the public demo for their game Drunken Goddess Reflux due to concerns about generative AI being used to clone and release the game before its official launch. The developers cited difficulties in managing content restrictions and the potential for AI-generated copies to appear first. This decision highlights growing anxieties within the game development community regarding AI's impact on intellectual property and market originality.
Super Smash Bros and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai says original games will be harder for AI to rip off, but…
Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros, expressed concerns about generative AI in game development, particularly its ability to replicate established game mechanics. He believes AI-generated games pose a significant threat to original titles, especially in the crowded indie market, and advises players to support human-made games.
Controversial Battlefield 6 XP changes have been reversed, with Battlefield Studios saying they were "unintended"
Battlefield Studios has reversed controversial changes to XP earn rates in Battlefield 6's Season 5, stating the reduction was unintended. Players had suspected the change was a deliberate nerf to encourage purchases of the new Ultimate Shortcut Kit. The article also briefly touches on Grand Theft Auto 6's eligibility for The Game Awards 2026 and Rockstar Games' ongoing employment tribunal.
Sega and Creative Assembly remove Total War: Shogun 2 remaster from sale as it "falls short of both your expectations and our own standards"
Sega and Creative Assembly have temporarily removed Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition from sale due to overwhelmingly negative player reviews citing AI upscaling and performance issues. The companies acknowledged the remaster "falls short of both your expectations and our own standards" and are working to address the problems and reinstate the original game.
"Little Tim is so obsessed with Gabe" – Ex-Valve dev not impressed by Epic's updated Steam rival or…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek criticized Epic Games' recent update to its store launcher, particularly its reliance on generative AI and the company's communication strategy. Faliszek highlighted Tim Sweeney's perceived obsession with Gabe Newell and questioned the overall direction and feature set of the Epic Games Store compared to Steam's ecosystem.
Sega apologizes for & delists Total War: Shogun 2 - Complete Edition amid player backlash
Sega and Creative Assembly have apologized and delisted Total War: Shogun 2 - Complete Edition from Steam following significant player backlash. The issues cited include bugs, quality-of-life problems, and alleged use of generative AI. The original version of the game will be reinstated, with the Complete Edition under investigation for a potential future release.
The Shogun 2 remaster is so bad, Sega is removing it from sale and bringing back the original
Sega is removing the recently released Total War: Shogun 2 - Complete Edition from sale due to numerous bugs and player complaints, including accusations of undisclosed generative AI use. The company plans to reinstate the original version of Total War: Shogun 2 while investigating the issues with the remaster. This decision reflects poorly on developer Creative Assembly, especially following the success of their Total War: Warhammer expansions.
"Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition has fallen short of both your expectations and our own standards", Sega say as they pull it from stores and restore the original
Sega and Creative Assembly are removing Total War: Shogun 2 - Complete Edition from sale due to widespread player complaints and admitted quality issues. The companies will investigate the problems, which include accusations of undisclosed generative AI use for art assets, and will reinstate the original version of the game for purchase while they work on improvements.
No more hand-written code? Epic's Disney project reportedly shifts to 'AI-First' development
Epic Games has reportedly mandated a significant shift towards an "AI-first" development model for an upcoming Disney game, leading to a delay. Developers are instructed to heavily utilize AI for code and art generation, with the director stating "no more hand-written code." Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed a company-wide pivot to "maximum AI acceleration" to enable teams to build more and better content.
Epic throws shade at Steam, admits to vibe-coding the new Epic Games Launcher with AI "to be faster than the other guy"
Epic Games has developed a new version of its PC launcher using generative AI, aiming to make it faster than Valve's Steam platform. While acknowledging potential bugs, Epic is encouraging user feedback. This move is part of a broader company push towards an "AI first" development pipeline, which may also influence Unreal Engine.
