Ubisoft has acknowledged that a piece of AI-generated art appeared in its recently released city-builder Anno 117: Pax Romana, but insists it was an unintended placeholder. The company plans to replace it with human-created artwork in the upcoming 1.3 patch. Players spotted the anomaly on a loading screen, sparking discussions about AI use in game development.
Incident Overview
Anno 117: Pax Romana, the latest entry in Ubisoft's historical city-building series, launched with an AI-generated image on one of its loading screens. Reddit users quickly identified the artwork due to hallmarks like deformed body parts, contrasting with the game's praised visual style from predecessors like Anno 1800. The discovery prompted concerns among fans who value handcrafted assets in the franchise.
Ubisoft's Response
In a statement to Kotaku, Ubisoft explained: "This image was a placeholder asset that unintentionally slipped through our review process." The publisher emphasized that the final replacement image would arrive via patch 1.3, ensuring all player-facing elements align with the team's creative vision.
Ubisoft also highlighted its development practices: "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 game's Steam page includes a mandatory AI disclosure, noting that "AI tools were used to help create some in-game assets," but affirming that the final product embodies human creativity.
Broader Context
The incident underscores growing debates over generative AI in gaming. Valve's 2023 guidelines require developers to disclose AI usage on Steam, enabling informed player choices. While AI aids efficiency, critics argue it risks undermining original artistry, especially in visually driven titles like Anno 117.