11-Bit Studios has confirmed the incorporation of AI-generated text in their project, The Alters

A screenshot from The Alters with a red arrow pointing towards the location of AI-generated text

The creators of the game, The Alters, have confirmed the use of AI-generated text in limited parts of the completed project.

According to Eurogamer and other sources, users found that a computer terminal within The Alters showed text produced by AI, along with the command used to create it.

There have also been reports of some translation issues in certain languages, including Korean, which appear to have been generated by AI.

Community reactions pointed out that Steam's guidelines necessitate disclosure of AI-generated assets on the game's store page upon release, which The Alters did not follow when it launched on June 13.

11-Bit Studios has addressed these issues, confirming in a statement on Bluesky that AI-generated text was part of the game's development. They stated: "AI-generated assets were used purely as temporary assets during development and were very limited in scope."

"Due to extreme time constraints, we chose not to involve our translation partners"
11-Bit Studios

The company emphasized its commitment to detailed, handcrafted storytelling as central to the game. The AI-generated text on the computer terminal was explained to be unintentional for the final version and left due to an "internal oversight." 11-Bit Studios assured that this was a unique incident.

For the AI-translated dialogue, they explained that last-minute translations were required for some licensed films.

"With tight deadlines, we opted not to use our usual translation partners and used AI to ensure these translations were ready for the game's launch," the statement explains.

Post-launch, the plan was always to engage their established translation firms to refine these texts to maintain quality, and this process is currently underway.

The studio acknowledged this approach was misguided in retrospect.

An apology from 11-Bit Studios about the use of AI in The Alters

This incident underscores the increasing presence of generative AI in game development and the potential reputational harm it may incur.

Similarly, Frontier Developments faced backlash for using AI-generated scientist images in Jurassic Evolution 3, leading to their removal after player feedback.

Actor Jane Perry also expressed concerns regarding AI's impact on voice actors. She remarked, "Most audiences favor genuine human performances, but the push from the tech industry to replace human roles with machines is formidable."