The Alters: Did 11 Bit Studios Accidentally Unleash an AI Doppelganger? Fans Cry Foul Over Undisclosed AI Use
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Fans are calling out 11 Bit Studios for allegedly using AI to generate content in *The Alters* without proper disclosure, leading to dodgy translations and rogue AI prompts showing up in-game. This whole saga highlights the importance of transparency when it comes to AI in gaming.
Right, so things have gone a bit sideways over at 11 Bit Studios, haven't they? Their new game, *The Alters*, a sci-fi title about creating alternative versions of yourself (sounds intriguing, right?), is catching flak – not for its gameplay, but for allegedly sneaking in some AI-generated content without telling anyone. And let me tell you, the gaming community ain't happy.
According to *Eurogamer*, eagle-eyed players started noticing some… oddities. Like, *really* odd. We're talking bits of AI prompts popping up in the game's visuals. Imagine spotting "Sure, here's a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data" plastered on a sci-fi screen. It's like finding a wizard's shopping list in the middle of a spell – just doesn't fit, does it?
But it doesn't stop there, mate. Players diving into different language versions of the game, particularly Brazilian Portuguese and Korean, reported wonky subtitles riddled with errors, inconsistencies, and unnatural phrasing. One player even posted a screenshot, highlighting the subtitle: "Sure! The text translated to Brazilian Portuguese is: Every conversation two people can have, right? So we-". It's like the AI translator had a stroke mid-sentence!
Now, Valve (the overlords of Steam) brought in a rule back in January 2024 that developers need to spill the beans if they're using AI to create *anything* in their games – art, code, sound, the whole shebang. It's all part of the Steam Distribution Agreement, see. Transparency is key, right? But *The Alters*? Nada. Zilch. No mention of AI use on their Steam page.
As you might expect, this has sparked a bit of a digital bonfire. Players are feeling betrayed, accusing 11 Bit Studios of trying to pull a fast one. One Steam user ranted: "The game is using AI-generated content without a proper Steam Page disclaimer! This is absolutely unacceptable… We have the right to know what we're buying." Hear, hear!
Of course, not everyone's grabbing their pitchforks. Some argue that the offending text is tiny and ignorable, akin to placeholder text that’s always been there. "You realise this is tiny text on a background prop, and only exists as a graphic and not as something you're expected to actually read," said one commenter, trying to inject a little reason into the chaos. "In the past things like that could have Ipsum etc stuff on it, or random gibberish. This isn't even slightly an issue."
However, Lucile Danilov, a game localization specialist, reckons this is a proper cock-up. "Look, I love The Alters," she said, "But this is a disgrace. Seriously, leaving parts of an AI prompt in the lockit?! Talk about spitting in the face of your international audience!"
Handong Ryu, who handled the Korean translation, chimed in, confirming similar issues in his version. "While no AI prompt has been exposed, I can confirm that the same section of the Korean localisation shows clear signs of having been run through an LLM without proper editing." Ouch. Sounds like someone cut a corner or two, eh?
So, where does this leave us? Well, 11 Bit Studios is staying mum for now, not commenting on the allegations. But the internet never forgets, does it? This whole kerfuffle highlights a growing tension in the gaming world: the ethics of AI in game development. It's all well and good to use AI to speed things up or fill in the gaps, but gamers deserve to know what they're getting. Hiding it just breeds mistrust. The industry has to come to terms with how it utilizes AI and be transparent about it, it's as simple as that.
For context, this isn't the first time AI in gaming has caused a stir. Remember when *Jurassic World Evolution 3* had to yank AI-generated scientist portraits after a bit of a backlash? Seems like developers are still figuring out this whole AI thing, and frankly, it’s a bit of a bumpy ride.
Tags: The Alters, AI in Games, Game Development, Steam, 11 Bit Studios
Original article: Eurogamer