Indie Developer Deletes AI-Made Game, Citing Moral Concerns and Environmental Impact

An independent game developer has made the decision to remove his partially AI-generated game from Steam after experiencing what he described as a moment of moral clarity about the use of artificial intelligence in game development.

Developer’s Change of Heart

Eero “Rakuel” Laine announced on January 10 that he would be deleting his free-to-play roguelike card game “Hardest” by the end of January. The game, which was released in July to largely negative reviews, was criticized by users for feeling “soulless” and for its use of AI-generated art.

In his announcement, Laine expressed regret for using AI tools, explaining that while he programmed the game himself, the AI-generated assets made the game “a disgrace to all game makers and players.” He credited his newfound perspective to a woman he had been dating for a month.

Concerns About AI in Game Development

Laine’s concerns extended beyond just artistic integrity. He specifically mentioned that “AI is not actually free” and highlighted its “major effect on the economy and environment.” He also worried that AI companies could use the mere existence of his game to attract more investment, which he believes “benefit[s] no one, but rather suck[s] resources from the economy from hard working people.”

Part of a Larger Industry Debate

This incident occurs amid a heated industry-wide debate about the role of AI in game development. Several high-profile cases have recently brought attention to the issue:

• The award-winning RPG Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 faced scrutiny when its developers admitted to using AI assets during development (though reportedly not in the final product).
• The Indie Game Awards later rescinded its Game of the Year award given to Expedition 33 specifically because of its AI usage.
• Larian Studios, creator of Baldur’s Gate 3, announced they would be using AI to “explore ideas” and “develop concept art” for their upcoming title Divinity.
• The multiplayer game Arc Raiders has gained popularity despite using AI to generate character voices.

Industry Implications

Laine’s decision represents a counterpoint to what appears to be growing acceptance of AI tools in game development. While major studios continue to incorporate AI into their workflows, his experience highlights the ethical, economic, and environmental concerns that remain unresolved in the industry.

The developer indicated he plans to create future games with entirely human-made assets, suggesting that for some creators, the perceived benefits of AI don’t outweigh the moral considerations.