Palworld Studio Rejects AI in Games: "Gamers Don't Want It"
It's been a major moment for AI disclosures in the gaming industry. As games with such labels have become more common on Steam, and with the summer trade shows in full swing, the question inevitably arises: how many of these games actually use the controversial technology? The answer doesn't always sit well with gamers, as seen with the recent Crazy Taxi game, which sparked debate over the use of AI in development.
John Buckley, head of publishing and communication at Palworld studio Pocketpair, shared his thoughts with GamesRadar. Comparing the rise of AI in gaming to the early days of crypto, Buckley said, "It feels very intrusive. It feels like everyone who is super gung-ho about it isn't from the industry. They're, dare I say, outsiders looking to get rich quick." However, he acknowledged that AI's role as a "search tool or coding assistant" was less controversial, noting that "was a very different conversation."
The Case Against AI-Generated Art
In a follow-up article from GamesRadar, Buckley elaborated on his views regarding AI-generated artwork and assets. "We have a lot of artists in-house," he said. "They like doing stuff themselves. There's no reason to get rid of them for the sake of an AI doing it. Just seems pointless." Buckley also emphasized that using AI in such contexts could easily trigger backlash on social media, a sentiment he personally understood.
"Even I, who is in the industry, I just felt like a natural, ugh, why? The rest of your game looks fine. Did you need to? I think that's going to be the attitude for quite a while. I think people will look at it and say, did you need to do that? Couldn't you just do it yourself?" Buckley added, reinforcing his belief that gamers don't want AI in their games. "And if the gamers don't want it, I guess that's it, right? Not much of a conversation to be had."
This sentiment aligns with Buckley's previous comments from last year regarding Pocketpair's refusal to publish games made with generative AI. He also speculated on a potential future where games are marketed based on their authenticity, with disclosures highlighting games without AI. "That's a bit dystopian … that's kind of sad to think about," he said.
Such a future doesn't feel entirely out of the question, especially with industry figures like Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney resisting AI disclosures. Additionally, the discovery of undisclosed AI "placeholders" in multiple major games has only fueled the debate. As the industry continues to grapple with the role of AI in game development, Buckley's comments offer a clear stance: for now, gamers want real human creativity, not AI shortcuts.
