11 Bit Studios, developer and publisher of the recently releasedThe Alters, has responded to backlash over AI-generated content found in-game. Players discovered two separate instances of AI being used inThe Alters, for text used in a texture and in the game’s Brazilian Portuguese translation for licensed movies that can be watched by characters in the game.
11 Bit Studiosresponded to the controversy via a post on Bluesky, claiming both instances of AI-generated content were effectively placeholders. According to the post,the AI-generated text not being replaced was the lone instance of an oversight prior to release, while the AI translation for the in-game movies was a result of “last-minute translations” not being ready in time for launch. The texture in question is in the process of being removed from the game, while the translation is also undergoing its due process through 11 Bit Studios' localization partners, with a hotfix planned. Players have taken umbrage withThe Altersfor not disclosing the use of AI-generated content on Steam, which is part of the platform’s requirements.
The Alters Developer 11 Bit Studios Promises AI-Generated Content Will Be Removed Shortly
Hotfixes Are On The Way
Following player outcry,11 Bit Studios claims a full review ofThe Alters' contents has been undertaken, with this lone block of text found to be the only oversight. The text is essentially set dressing, found on a screen in the player’s giant wheel-shaped home base. It was discovered thanks to the prompt the developers used to generate the text being left in the texture itself. A replacement texture is likely imminent.
With no timeline provided by 11 Bit Studios, the translation issue may take slightly longer to resolve. The true translation “process is now underway,” according to the post, butThe Altersis now more than two weeks past its full release on June 13, which also saw itarrive on Game Pass day one.Said in-game movies were added late in development, according to the developer, thus the studio’s need to ship a subpar translation, citing the desire not to ship “a worse experience for non-English-speakers.”
Our Take: 11 Bit Studios' Transparency Is The Right Move
Even If This Could Have Been Avoided
The ideal solution would have been to releaseThe Alterswithout AI-generated content, either through more thorough vetting or by delaying the game until translations could be completed, but 11 Bit Studios is taking the correct course of action, all things considered.Players have legitimate grievances with the use of AI in game development, especially large language models (LLMs), which are often trained on copyrighted material without compensation to the authors whose work was used.
I would argue that if a placeholder block of text was needed, someone could have whipped up a paragraph in a few minutes rather than rely on AI, but such tools are used throughout game development to streamline production.Screen Rant’sThe Altersreviewpraised the game, so this is unfortunately a rather bleak mark on the otherwiseclever game about clones. Players are right to be upset that a Steam disclaimer wasn’t used. Those who have taken a hard-line stance against AI are ethically opposed to the practices thatThe Altersemployed, and even though 11 Bit Studios' transparency is admirable, the original release, sans disclaimer, is misleading to consumers.
Source:11 Bit Studios/Bluesky
The Alters
A stranded miner crafts alternate versions of himself—each shaped by different life choices—to survive on a hostile planet. As he builds a mobile base to escape lethal solar radiation, these “Alters” bring unique skills and emotional complexities, forcing him to confront the paths not taken in a race against time.
