Manor Lords Developer Bans AI Assets, Describes Them as “Cancerous” for Gameplay

The studio behind strategy titles like Endless Legend 2, Terra Invicta, and Against the Storm has taken a firm stance against the use of AI-generated assets in its games. Hooded Horse has carved out a notable niche in the strategy genre recently, particularly with successes like Manor Lords. While many in the industry are exploring or promoting their use of generative AI, Hooded Horse is firmly rejecting it for artistic purposes. In a recent interview, CEO Tim Bender highlighted that the prohibition of AI art is now a standard clause in every contract the studio signs, stating, “It is now written into our contracts if we’re publishing the game, ‘no f**king AI assets.'” He also shared his personal frustrations, noting that generative AI has complicated his work, saying, “If I sound frustrated, it’s because, like, honestly, all this thing has done is made our lives more difficult.” This frustration stems from the challenge of identifying AI-generated content, as even placeholder assets can inadvertently end up in the final game. “We’ve gotten to the point where we also talk to developers and we recommend they don’t use any gen AI anywhere in the process,” Bender explained. However, ensuring these guidelines are followed requires ongoing diligence. As he put it, “We’re constantly having to watch and deal with it and try to prevent it from slipping in, because it’s cancerous.” Bender’s concerns are not unfounded; Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lost its Indie Game of the Year award due to the inclusion of “placeholder” AI assets that were later removed after player feedback. The debate around generative AI continues to be a hot topic in game development and tech culture. Developers and fans have criticized the use of generative AI in projects like Baldur’s Gate 3, prompting clarifications from its creators. Meanwhile, the team behind Arc Raiders has defended its use of AI text-to-speech technology, and Lies of P’s publisher has highlighted AI’s role in boosting productivity. Even prominent figures have called for ethical considerations in AI development, emphasizing the need for moral discernment in the field.