Localthunk, the creative force behind the popular roguelike poker game Balatro, recently intervened to address a controversy sparked by a moderator's stance on AI-generated art within the game's subreddit community. The situation unfolded on the Balatro subreddit, with significant contributions noted by Garbage Day and Rock Paper Shotgun.
The controversy began when DrTankHead, a now-former moderator of the Balatro subreddit and also a moderator of a NSFW Balatro subreddit, announced that AI-generated art would be allowed on both subreddits, provided it was properly labeled. This statement was supposedly made after discussions with Playstack, the game's publisher.
In response, Localthunk took to Bluesky to clarify their stance, emphasizing a strong opposition to AI-generated imagery. They followed up with a detailed statement on the subreddit, stating, "Neither Playstack nor I condone AI 'art'. I don't use it in my game, I think it does real harm to artists of all kinds. The actions of this mod do not reflect how Playstack feels or how I feel on the topic. We have removed this moderator from the moderation team."
Localthunk also announced a new policy for the subreddit, stating, "We will not be allowing AI generated images on this subreddit from now on. We will make sure our rules and FAQ reflect this soon."
In a subsequent clarification, Playstack's communications director admitted that the existing rules could have been clearer, as a rule against "unlabeled AI content" may have inadvertently suggested acceptance of AI-generated content. The remaining mod team plans to revise the language to avoid future misunderstandings.
DrTankHead, after being removed as a moderator from r/Balatro, posted in the NSFW Balatro subreddit, stating that they do not intend to make it an AI-centric community. However, they are considering a designated day for posting AI-generated non-NSFW art. This suggestion was met with a recommendation from a user for DrTankHead to take a break from Reddit.
The debate over AI-generated content in gaming and entertainment is particularly heated, especially in light of recent industry layoffs. The use of AI in game development has been criticized for ethical and rights-related issues, as well as the quality of AI-generated content. For example, Keywords Studios' attempt to create an entirely AI-generated game was unsuccessful, leading them to conclude that AI cannot replace human talent.
Despite such setbacks, major tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI. EA has described AI as "the very core" of its business, while Capcom is experimenting with generative AI for in-game environments. Activision recently acknowledged using generative AI for some assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, following criticism of an AI-generated zombie Santa loading screen.
