Indie Developer Drops Steam Game Following Girlfriend’s Warning About AI

An independent game developer has made headlines with the decision to delist his game from Steam, a move prompted by a newfound understanding of the implications of artificial intelligence from his girlfriend. This revelation comes amid the growing societal integration of AI technologies across various sectors, including video game development and beyond.

University student Eero Laine, who previously utilized generative AI to complete his game titled Hardest, is now reconsidering its presence on the platform just six months post-launch. As highlighted by PC Gamer, Laine’s girlfriend has articulated the potential negative consequences associated with AI, leading him to label his project a “disgrace.”

The Decision to Remove ‘Hardest’ from Steam

‘Hardest’ is described as a unique card game intertwining Rock-Paper-Scissors mechanics with roguelike features, promising variety in gameplay. However, players soon noticed that much of the game’s artwork and character designs were generated through AI technology, raising concerns about authenticity and originality.

AI artwork in game on Steam — AI-generated art used in ‘Hardest’

Laine openly acknowledged his reliance on generative AI tools throughout the project’s development, despite crafting the game’s code manually. He noted that the ease of access to free AI resources during his studies led to a rapid completion of the game over a couple of months. Yet, as his relationship has matured, Laine has gained a more profound perspective: “AI is not actually free. It has a major effect on the economy and environment, ” he stated.

As a result, he has decided that removing the game from Steam is the “only logical”conclusion. He expressed, “The game existing in its current form is a disgrace to all game makers and players. The girl I’ve been dating for a month made me realize this.”

Gameplay of Hardest — Gameplay from ‘Hardest’

Feedback from players has been mixed; while some criticized the reliance on AI by labeling the project as “AI slop, ”others appreciated its innovative game design. Looking ahead, Laine has expressed interest in the possibility of developing a remake featuring original assets in the future.

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