Publisher Running With Scissors has canceled the upcoming Postal spin-off Bullet Paradise just two days after its reveal, citing fan backlash over alleged AI-generated elements. The game, developed by Goonswarm Games as a Vampire Survivors-like bullet-heaven shooter, faced swift criticism that damaged the company's reputation. Goonswarm denies any use of generative AI in the project.
Announcement and Backlash
Postal: Bullet Paradise was revealed on December 3, 2025, as a co-op bullet-heaven shooter inspired by Vampire Survivors, featuring characters from the Postal multiverse. Developed by Goonswarm Games and set for a PC release in 2026 followed by PlayStation and Switch versions, the game was promoted via a Steam page, trailers, and the publisher's website. However, fans quickly accused the reveal trailer and assets of containing AI-generated content, with Reddit users pointing to pixel sprites and the developer's past work as evidence.
Cancellation Statement
On December 4, 2025, Running With Scissors founder Vince Desi issued a statement announcing the project's immediate cancellation. "After revealing Postal: Bullet Paradise, a title Running With Scissors was planning on publishing--but not developing--we've been overwhelmed with negative responses from our concerned Postal Community," Desi said. "The strong feedback from them is that elements of the game are very likely AI-generated and thus has caused extreme damage to our brand and our company reputation." He added that the publisher's trust in Goonswarm Games was broken, leading to the decision to kill the project entirely. The Steam page was delisted, and references removed from official sites.
Developer's Response and Context
Goonswarm Games denied the allegations in a statement to PC GamesN: "No generative AI was used for the reveal trailer or for the game. All assets were created by our human artists using standard tools. We've already shared layered PSDs, work-in-progress files, and other materials to confirm this." The controversy highlights growing scrutiny of AI in game development, especially ironic given Running With Scissors' recent public opposition to undisclosed AI use. The Postal series, known for its controversial action games since 1997, continues with other projects like the Postal 2 Redux remake, which lacks a release date.
