While the bigger publishers go all-in on AI for game development, a solo developer has reversed course and is deleting their game because it uses AI assets.
The use of AI generated assets in video games remains a controversial talking point. Some see it as a means of saving time on development, but others argue it’s the start of a slippery slope.
2025 already saw the likes of Call Of Duty and indie darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 make use of the tech. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Google have dabbled with the idea of making entire games with AI.
Storefronts like Steam are filled to the brim with games clearly put together with AI assets. Although by the end of the month, there’ll be one less example, as a developer is deleting their game – having pulled a 180 on their stance on generative AI after a conversation with their girlfriend.
The game in question is called Hardest and is described as a ‘rock-paper-scissors card game roguelike.’ It released last July and, to its credit, is completely free.
The developer, who goes by the name Eero Laine, claims that they coded everything themselves, but it is full of AI-made artwork.
In a recent Steam update, Laine mentions that the game was made in just a couple of months using tools provided by their university. At the time, they saw it as a way to ‘generate unlimited images for free.’
Since then, they ‘have realised the AI is not actually free, and it has a major effect on the economy and environment. Some AI companies can use this game just existing as a reason the [sic] get more investment for their AI companies, that benefit no one, but rather suck resources from the economy from hard working people.’
Laine credits the girl they’ve been dating for a month for this realisation, although whether she specifically tried to get him to delete the game, or just generally made him more aware of the drawbacks of AI is unclear.
‘The game existing in its current form is a disgrace to all game makers and players. Ethically only logical reason is to delete the game from Steam [sic],’ concludes the post.
At the time of writing, Hardest is still available, but the plan is to have it deleted from Steam near the end of the month, on January 30.
Reactions on Steam have been mixed. If you scroll through the comments to Laine’s post, you’ll find plenty of people telling Laine they’re doing the right thing but also some who think they’re overreacting and should leave the game up so people can still play it.
Some go so far as to say Laine’s been brainwashed by their girlfriend and that this decision will age poorly if/when they break up. However, Laine has responded to some of the comments, explaining that they’re already no longer dating and that hasn’t impacted their decision.
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‘I don’t think not using AI will make the AI companies disappear,’ they write. ‘I just want there is no more AI in my personal life [sic]. I want to make and support art that is made my someone. I get agitated just seeing AI art on some wall or item.’
Generative AI stands to become more commonplace in video games this year, considering big name publishers like EA and especially Microsoft are so gung-ho about it.
Sony and Microsoft also plan to incorporate AI tech into the PlayStation 6 and next Xbox consoles. Exactly how is unclear and, ironically, companies’ reliance on AI reportedly risks delaying those consoles’ launch.
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