Manor Lords Developer Vows to Avoid AI in Games, Acknowledges Challenges Ahead

Tim Bender, CEO of Hooded Horse, known for titles like Manor Lords and Against the Storm, as well as the upcoming Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, has expressed serious concerns about the impact of generative AI on the gaming industry. He describes the technology as “cancerous,” acknowledging that despite their best efforts to prevent its use, he believes it’s inevitable that it will infiltrate their games.

In a recent interview, Bender emphasized that Hooded Horse has a strict policy against the use of generative AI, but he recognizes the challenge of keeping it out entirely given its widespread presence in everyday life. “We have a strong alignment with our developers and players,” he notes. “Generally, players are not in favor of generative AI.” However, he remains realistic about the potential for it to slip into their projects.

“We will mess up,” Bender admits. “We publish a lot of games, and while our developers share our stance, there are always risks, especially with art outsourcing. A freelancer somewhere might inadvertently introduce it. What we can do is commit to vigilance. We will do everything we can to prevent it, and if it’s ever found in our games, we will remove it.”

Bender elaborates on the challenges posed by the rise of generative AI, stating, “It creates significant headaches and complicates our work. We have to be on guard because the issue has become pervasive. That’s why I called it ‘cancerous’—it spreads everywhere, and now it’s a constant concern.”

“Last year we were known as the ‘Manor Lords publisher’; this year, I think we’re evolving into something more,” he adds, highlighting the success of their titles, including the impressive sales of over 4.5 million copies for Heroes of Might and Magic for two consecutive years.