Drunken Goddess Reflux Developers Withdraw Steam Next Fest Demo Due to AI Clone Issues

Drunken Goddess Reflux is an intriguing indie title where players navigate a night of drinking with a captivating anime demon, all in a high-stakes Russian Roulette format. This unique premise has already garnered over 25,000 wishlists on Steam. Although a demo was initially planned for the Steam Next Fest, the developers opted to cancel it at the last moment to prevent a surge of generative AI clones.

Steam Next Fest kicks off on Monday, Oct. 19, and runs until Oct. 26. This week-long event allows developers to showcase demos of their upcoming games, giving players a chance to sample a variety of titles for free while helping developers gain visibility and wishlists on Steam.

Alliance Arts and Who You’s Drunken Goddess Reflux was set to debut a demo during this event. However, just days before the festival, Alliance Arts decided to withdraw the demo. The studio expressed its apologies to fans on social media, citing two main reasons for the decision.

Firstly, they were concerned about their ability to monitor gameplay footage and streams to ensure compliance with their publishing guidelines. Secondly, they feared that releasing a demo would enable others to quickly create clones using generative AI.

The rise of AI in the gaming industry has raised significant concerns among developers and players. While AI can streamline development and enhance efficiency, it also facilitates the rapid creation of game clones. If a demo were released, it’s conceivable that developers of these AI-generated copies could finish their versions faster and launch them before Drunken Goddess Reflux, potentially undermining its success.

Fortunately, players still have a chance to experience the game ahead of its official launch. Interested gamers can apply for access to closed test sessions on Who You’s official Discord server. Drunken Goddess Reflux is set to officially release on Dec. 8.