We’ve been thinking about AI in our gaming experiences since the first time enemies in video games started “thinking” for themselves. Now, the term has a very different meaning, and players don’t make much of a fuss if developers use GenAI without their knowledge.
The recently released Crimson Desert was no different. In a post clarifying the developer’s decision and apologizing for its use of GenAI, former Blizzard CEO and Microsoft Vice President Mike Ybarra weighed in to offer his two cents, and has since been heavily criticized.
“Why apologize? AI will be in every video game in some form or another.” Ibarra wrote. “I don’t understand why developers feel the need to bend over backwards because of a minority of people who can’t accept the reality that AI will be in everything from video games to refrigerators (which is already the case).”
Ybarra’s comments were criticized by many people replying to the same post, who said it showed a disconnect with the broader gaming audience. Streamer and former Blizzard developer Pirate Software said it was “the best CEO disconnect.”
Audiences seem to be becoming more accepting of AI being detected in games, as long as it’s fixed, as was the case with Crimson Desert and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, fans wanted the AI usage to be made public up front, per Steam’s terms of service.
