Is Epic Replacing Artists? Fortnite Fans Furious Over “Lazy” AI Art in New Update
Fortnite has recently come under fire from players following the discovery of what strongly appear to be AI-generated images scattered across the map.
The most blatant culprit: a yeti poster with 5 toes on one foot and 4 on the other, which you can see above, and which, frankly, leaves little room for doubt.
Reddit Controversy: Epic Games Fans Are Angry
The controversy, and especially the anger of Battle Royale fans, erupted on Reddit. It must be said, Epic Games rakes in billions, and seeing such a powerful company give in to the siren call of generative AI is enough to make anyone cringe. After all, paying a handful of artists to handle posters, sprays, signs, and other in-game elements isn’t unreasonable. Especially when its economy relies on a premium Battle Pass system.
To not shy away from the ethical questions, it’s worth remembering that while its use has become widespread among the general public in recent years, generative AI is still viewed with skepticism online. From its ability to steal the work of human artists to its high environmental cost, and its harmful consequences on the professional lives of employees it can now replace, there is no shortage of reasons to be wary of it.
A Climate of Paranoia Sets in Over the Battle Royale
Then again, no need to act surprised: this isn’t exactly the first time Epic Games has toyed with AI in its game. We still remember the Darth Vader chatbot that raised a few skeptical eyebrows upon its arrival. But what was once seen as a fun little diversion is now perceived as the publisher’s first test to gauge public enthusiasm.
The thing is, a sense of paranoia has now taken hold of users, to the point of doubting the work of actual artists. This is notably the case with the Looking McFly spray, for which the creator had to come back via Instagram to prove the authenticity of their efforts. At the same time, when you’re stuck between a Yeti with 9 toes and a necklace with particularly suspicious irregularities, it’s not easy to stay credible…
Tim Sweeney and the Future of AI in Fortnite
So let’s keep our feet on the ground: it still remains that this isn’t exactly a great witch hunt. But in the players’ defense, how can you not be a little suspicious?
The fact is, Tim Sweeney, Epic’s CEO, himself stated on Twitter less than a week ago that he is not in favor of disclosing the use of generative artificial intelligence in video game productions… Which also explains why the Epic Game Store doesn’t categorize them separately, unlike Steam.
In any case, it now seems obvious that unless a major scandal erupts on this subject, chances are that AI will take on an increasingly important role in the development of Fortnite. Not sure everyone will be happy about that…
Scarlet Deng has been dispensing JV advice and recommendations for many years, and her ancestral wisdom is invaluable. Some might be tempted to classify her as a "new recruit", but given her PC knowledge and her passion for hairy RPGs, her admirers recognize her more as a "teacher" or "senpai". In fact, here we simply prefer "grandma" to better reflect her benevolence: since her reflexes have gone soft, Doom Eternal has largely given way to Stardew Valley...
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