Ubisoft has acknowledged that an AI-generated loading screen image unintentionally made it into the final build of Anno 117: Pax Romana, promising to replace it with patch 1.3. The company emphasized that AI tools are used only for prototyping, with all final content reflecting human artistry. Fan backlash highlights concerns over quality and ethics in using AI for game assets.
Incident Overview
Anno 117: Pax Romana, Ubisoft Blue Byte's latest economic city builder set in ancient Rome, launched with an unexpected issue: an AI-generated loading screen image that players quickly identified due to anomalies like distorted facial features, missing limbs, and unnatural proportions. Unveiled in June 2024 for PC and consoles, the game marks the first in Ubisoft's portfolio to feature an 'AI Generated Content Disclosure' on its Steam page. Despite this, the image sparked complaints, with fans arguing it undermines the premium quality expected from the developer.
Ubisoft's Response
In a statement to Kotaku, Ubisoft explained: 'This image was a placeholder asset that unintentionally slipped through our review process. The final image is attached here and will replace the current version of this artwork with the upcoming 1.3 patch. With Anno 117: Pax Romana being our most ambitious Anno yet, we’ve assembled the largest team of artists ever for the franchise and to help meet the project’s unique scope, they use AI tools for iterations, prototyping, and exploration. Every element players will experience in the final game reflects the team’s craft, artistry, and creative vision.' The company reiterated its commitment to artistic integrity amid the controversy.
Community Reactions and Additional Concerns
Players expressed frustration on Steam and social media, with one reviewer stating: 'I don't want to live in a future where every big studio that very well could afford paying artists instead chooses to steal from artists by using AI generated images. AI tools are bad for the environment, bad for the job market, on top of that the images look awful, genuinely an eyesore in a[n] otherwise beautiful game.' Another fan commented: 'If they are going to go with cheap tools in their game, I will wait till the game is cheap.'
Beyond visuals, some players alleged that the game's text localization, particularly in German, appears machine-translated, calling it 'AI generated slop' despite a six million euro cultural sponsorship from the German state. These issues were highlighted as early as two months prior, yet persist in the current build.
The incident underscores ongoing debates in gaming about AI's role, balancing innovation with traditional artistry as Ubisoft navigates fan expectations for its ambitious title.