Expedition 33 and Artificial Intelligence Discussion: Statement from Sandfall Interactive
Sandfall Interactive has decided to further clarify the situation regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This decision comes after angry reactions from the community and the withdrawal of two awards from The Indie Game Awards after the developers recently admitted to experimenting with artificial neural networks.
In an interview with YouTube blogger Sushi, the game's director Guillaume Brioche and art director Nicolas Maxon-Francombe confirmed that the team was testing GenAI's capabilities in the early stages of development. According to them, these trials took place in 2022, when such technologies began to be actively discussed in the industry. Artificial neural networks were evaluated as a potential utility tool, but developers found the results unsuccessful and contrary to the spirit of the project.
Artificial Intelligence Experiences and Results
The developers explained that the AI-generated assets are only used as temporary templates for certain missing elements. For example, these templates were used for some elements, such as textures, but as soon as the team noticed these templates, they changed them or removed them completely. In the final version of the game, Sandfall Interactive ensured that all content—from concept art to voice acting—was created by humans without the use of artificial neural networks.
Following the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, players noticed several ads throughout the game world that appeared to be AI-generated. The studio quickly changed these elements and the matter calmed down for a while, but the controversy reignited in December. To resolve the issue once and for all, Brioche emphasized that Sandfall Interactive does not plan to use generative AI in future projects.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Gaming Industry: An Expanding Discussion
The situation around Expedition 33 has become part of a broader discussion in the gaming industry. Larian Studios came under fire after Sven Vincke admitted to using AI for supporting tasks. Although the studio assured that AI did not replace human experts, it faced significant backlash. The debate over the acceptability of artificial neural networks in game development has yielded both proponents and opponents of the cautious approach, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
Artificial Intelligence and Game Development: Future Approaches
Sandfall Interactive's experiences reveal both the opportunities and risks of using artificial intelligence in the gaming industry. Developers note that AI can potentially be a time-saving tool, but it can also negatively impact creativity and gaming experience. For this reason, many studios choose to keep the use of AI limited or avoid it altogether.
The Expedition 33 example reflects how the use of AI is perceived in the gaming industry and the debates that will shape the future role of this technology. It's critical for developers to be transparent when using AI and take players' concerns into consideration for this discussion to proceed in a healthy way.
Reaction from Gamers and Industry
Gamers generally have a negative attitude towards the use of artificial intelligence in games. Behind this attitude lies the concern that AI may reduce creativity and standardize the gaming experience. Additionally, the use of AI reinforces the notion that it may reduce human input in the game development process, causing games to lose their personal texture.
Industry experts emphasize that AI can be used as an auxiliary tool in game development, but the main creative process must be managed by humans. This balance can ensure that games remain both innovative and personal. The Expedition 33 example shows how important it is to maintain this balance.
Artificial Intelligence and Game Development: Future Trends
As artificial intelligence technologies continue to develop rapidly, the use of these technologies in the gaming industry seems to increase. However, how and to what extent developers will use AI will remain a critical issue that will shape the future of the industry. Examples such as Expedition 33 reveal the importance and complexity of this debate.
In conclusion, Sandfall Interactive's experiences demonstrate both the opportunities and challenges of using AI in the gaming industry. It is critical for developers to be transparent when using AI and take players' concerns into consideration for the healthy integration of this technology in the gaming industry.
