11 Bit Studios has responded to criticism surrounding its use of generative AI in sci-fi game The Alters, insisting the controversial elements discovered by players were either “temporary” assets “never intended to be part of the final release” or used in a “very limited manner.”
11 Bit, which has also developed the acclaimed Frostpunk and This War of Mine, found itself the focus of controversy over the weekend after evidence of AI-generated assets were discovered in The Alters – despite the studio failing to disclose their use on Steam, as mandated by Valve.
One image widely circulated on social media showed an in-game background display featuring a text-based “Captain’s Log” conspicuously incorporating the giveaway generative AI phrase, “Sure, here’s a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data”. But it was the instances of shoddy AI-generated localisation – used alongside professionally translated text – that drew the most criticism. One Portuguese subtitle translation, for instance, began, “Sure! Here is the translated text into Brazilian Portuguese”.
The discoveries weren’t well-received, particularly given 11 Bit’s failure to disclose its generative AI usage, but the studio has now responded, insisting some of the offending elements were used in error, while others were down to misjudgement. “We’ve seen a wide range of accusations regarding the use of AI-generated content in The Alters,” it wrote in a statement on social media, “and we feel it’s important to clarify our approach and give you more context.”
“AI-generated assets were used strictly as temporary [work-in progress elements] during the development process and in a very limited manner,” it insisted. “Our team has always prioritised meaningful, handcrafted storytelling as one of the foundations of our game.”
We’ve seen a wide range of accusations regarding the use of AI-generated content in The Alters, and we feel it’s important to clarify our approach and give you more context.
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— 11 bit studios | WISHLIST DEATH HOWL (@11bitstudios.bsky.social) June 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
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“During production, an AI-generated text for a graphic asset, which was meant as a piece of background texture, was used by one of our graphical designers as a placeholder. This was never intended to be part of the final release. Unfortunately, due to an internal oversight, this single placeholder text was mistakenly left in the game. We have since conducted a thorough review and confirmed that this was an isolated case, and the asset in question is being updated.” The studio also shared a screenshot of the controversial assets – including the Captain’s Log display – as they appear in-game, adding, “While we do not want to downplay the situation, we also want to clearly show its limited impact on your gaming experience”.