Localthunk, the creative mind behind the innovative roguelike poker game Balatro, has recently intervened to address a controversy sparked by a moderator's stance on AI-generated art within the Balatro subreddit. The situation unfolded dramatically, as highlighted by Garbage Day and Rock Paper Shotgun, and it's quite a tale, so stick with me here.
The saga began with DrTankHead, who was a moderator of the Balatro subreddit and is currently moderating a NSFW version of it. DrTankHead stated that AI-generated art would not be banned on either subreddit, provided it was properly labeled and tagged. This decision, they claimed, was made following discussions with Playstack, Balatro's publisher.
However, Localthunk quickly took to Bluesky to clarify that this was not aligned with their views or those of Playstack regarding AI-generated imagery. In a detailed statement on the subreddit, Localthunk expressed strong opposition to AI "art," emphasizing their commitment to not using it in Balatro and highlighting the harm it poses to artists. They explicitly stated that DrTankHead's actions did not reflect the stance of Playstack or themselves. As a result, DrTankHead was removed from the moderation team, and a new policy was set forth: AI-generated images would no longer be allowed on the subreddit, with forthcoming updates to the rules and FAQ to reflect this decision.
Following this, Playstack's communications director admitted that the rules surrounding AI content should have been clearer. A previous rule against "unlabeled AI content" could have been misinterpreted as allowing such content. The remaining moderators plan to revise this language to avoid future confusion.
DrTankHead, after being removed, confirmed their dismissal on the NSFW Balatro subreddit. They clarified that their aim was not to make the subreddit AI-centric but mentioned considering a designated day for posting AI-generated non-NSFW art. A user suggested that DrTankHead should take a break from Reddit for a week or two.
The debate over generative AI is a burning issue in the gaming and entertainment sectors, which have faced significant layoffs recently. Critics, including players and creators, have voiced concerns over ethical dilemmas, rights issues, and the quality of AI-generated content. For example, Keywords Studios tried to develop a game solely with AI but labeled it a failure, citing AI's inability to replace human talent.
Despite these setbacks, tech giants are doubling down on AI. EA declared AI as central to its business model in September, while Capcom is exploring generative AI to generate vast numbers of ideas for game environments. Activision also admitted to using generative AI for assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, following criticism over an AI-generated "zombie Santa" loading screen.
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