Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains a controversial topic, sparking debates about the ethical and practical applications of the technology in various industries. The gaming industry is no exception, as developers attempt to integrate AI into the development process. While most AI-infused games released on platforms like Steam have received negative feedback or simply been forgotten, a few major developers have sparked discussions with their AI-focused releases. Square Enix is the latest major developer to venture into AI integration in game development.
Square Enix recently remade The Portopia Serial Murder Case, a text-based adventure game originally released in 1983. This game requires players to type commands into their computers to interact with the game. However, like previous attempts, Square Enix received criticism for both its use of controversial AI technology and the game’s lack of quality. Despite being viewed as a more favorable incorporation of AI overall, it raises questions about whether the game industry truly benefits from AI integration.
In the case of Square Enix’s AI integration, their game’s systems are significantly worse than the original 1983 version. Like interacting with AI in ChatGPT, players must type words to communicate with the AI in the game. However, the system has unresolved issues that were already addressed in 1983. The AI fails to recognize players’ commands, rendering the game broken and unplayable at times. The requirements and rules expected from players by the AI differ with each interaction. Some players may need only a single word, while others may have to construct a grammatically correct sentence, taking voice and pronoun possession into account for an answer. This well-intended effort to cater to modern players has instead resulted in an obstacle course of dead ends and failures.
AI’s negative impact extends beyond gameplay experiences as well. Concerns have been raised about how AI implementation could potentially replace the work of talented individuals who are passionate about game development. While The Portopia Serial Murder Case may not be as extreme of an example as other games, its use of AI still eliminated writing and programming jobs that could have been done by dedicated individuals. What initially seemed like an ambitious and innocuous use of AI to modernize a game turned into a cautionary tale about the consequences of removing the human element from the creative process.
Some games have faced even more criticism for their use of AI in art and voice acting. For instance, High on Life received backlash for utilizing AI-generated art and voice acting. While the AI-created art was only meant for set decoration, it prevented visual designers, concept artists, and background designers from contributing to the game. Similarly, the voice actor missed out on potential work opportunities. Moreover, AI struggles to accurately replicate human emotion. These decisions to employ AI in such ways create a negative precedent for game creation.
Steam continues to see a surge in indie games developed with AI. Games like This Girl Does Not Exist proudly showcase that everything, from the story to the music and visuals, was created by AI. Aside from alienating players with AI integration, these games often sacrifice their uniqueness to conform to what the AI produces. This discrepancy also diminishes the opportunities for other indie games, as the existence of AI-powered games overshadows their presence in the Steam store. It becomes a method of artificially generating interest in a game due to the significant attention surrounding AI.
While it is important not to completely discard AI in gaming, as it has contributed to some memorable games, such as Resident Evil 4 and Left 4 Dead’s use of AI to adjust difficulty based on player performance or generating seeds for roguelike games like The Binding of Isaac, the conversation becomes more complex when professionals lose job prospects, and game quality is compromised for profit. The use of AI-generated imagery is still in its early stages, which explains why developers are eager to implement this technology. However, unfortunately, it comes at a cost to both players and the gaming industry as a whole.
