11 Bit Studios is under scrutiny for allegedly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content in its recently launched survival game, The Alters. A player raised concerns last week after sharing a screenshot that appeared to show a response generated by an AI tool within the game. In response to these claims, 11 Bit Studios has acknowledged that AI-generated assets were included as temporary placeholders during development but clarified that they were never intended for the final release. The developer has committed to issuing an update to eliminate the AI-generated text from the game.
11 Bit Studios Addresses AI Allegations
On Monday, the studio took to Bluesky to clarify its position, stating that a minor portion of AI was also employed for in-game translations. These translations will be revamped in an upcoming hotfix, with authentic translations provided by reputable agencies, according to 11 Bit Studios.
“We’ve encountered a variety of accusations surrounding the use of AI-generated content in The Alters, and it is crucial for us to provide clarity regarding our methods and context,” the studio remarked.
“AI-generated assets were utilized strictly as temporary works in progress during the development phase and were limited in scope. Our focus has always been on meaningful, handcrafted storytelling, which we consider a core aspect of our game.”
“During development, one instance of AI-generated text was employed by a graphic designer as background texture placeholder asset. This was never meant to make its way into the final game. Unfortunately, due to a lapse in internal oversight, this single placeholder text was inadvertently included in the game. We have now conducted a meticulous review to confirm that this issue was isolated, and we are in the process of updating the asset. To maintain transparency, we have shared a screenshot indicating how and where this text appears. While we do not wish to minimize the situation, we also want to underscore its limited effect on your gameplay experience.”
The specific graphic asset was the one highlighted by Reddit user EarthlingKira last week. The image displayed a block of text on a screen within the game, initiating with the phrase, “Sure, here’s a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data,” mimicking the style of an AI response to a prompt.
Furthermore, 11 Bit Studios acknowledged its use of AI for a small portion of translations concerning licensed movies that characters can view at their base in the game. The studio explained that these movies were produced externally and integrated at the final development stage, noting that the localization relied on AI methods due to time constraints.
“We always aimed to engage our trusted translation agencies post-release as part of our localization hotfix, ensuring the texts receive the same level of care and quality as the rest of the game. This process is currently in progress, and updated translations are being rolled out,” the developer stated.
According to 11 Bit Studios, AI-generated translations constituted merely 0.3 percent of the total text in the game, although they acknowledged that greater transparency regarding AI usage in The Alters was necessary.
“The evolution of AI tools brings both challenges and opportunities in game development. We are actively revising our internal processes to navigate this reality. First and foremost, we remain devoted to transparency in our game creation methods. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and support as we strive toward this objective,” the studio concluded.
The Role of AI in Gaming
The emergence of generative AI has made a notable impact on the gaming industry, even amid protests from video game performers against AI usage. The strike concluded last month when SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement with various studios.
Popular gaming platform Steam mandates that developers disclose any AI utilization in their products, requiring explanations of how AI has been employed throughout the development process.
Last year, Activision faced backlash for reportedly offering AI-generated cosmetics for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Recently, Microsoft initiated public testing of its Copilot for Gaming AI Chatbot via the beta version of the Xbox mobile app, while this year, the parent company introduced its Muse AI model designed to create 3D gameplay environments.
The introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot in late 2022 sparked broader AI adoption across various sectors, including film, television, video games, and graphic design. This aggressive adoption of AI, however, has met resistance from artists, creatives, and publishers who have accused companies like OpenAI, Meta, Google, and Anthropic of unlicensed use of their work — such as films, literature, art, music, and news reporting — to train their AI models.
