In a bold move that’s sparking heated debates, Hooded Horse, the publisher behind Manor Lords, has declared it will no longer collaborate with studios using generative AI. This isn’t just a minor policy update—it’s a full-stop stance that’s sending ripples through the gaming industry. But here’s where it gets controversial: CEO Tim Bender didn’t mince words, labeling the technology as “cancerous” in an interview with Kotaku. His reasoning? Generative AI, he argues, has “made our lives more difficult” by introducing assets that can slip through quality control, potentially tarnishing the final product. And this is the part most people miss: even placeholder content, intended to be temporary, can accidentally make it into the final game—a risk Bender isn’t willing to take. “It only takes one of those slipping through in some build and not getting replaced,” he warned, emphasizing the constant vigilance required to prevent such mishaps.
To drive this point home, Hooded Horse has explicitly banned the use of generative AI in its publishing contracts, even for prototypes. Bender’s concern isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about maintaining the integrity of the creative process. “Human authorship is final,” he seems to imply, a sentiment echoed by Embracer Group’s CEO Phil Rogers. But not everyone agrees. While some, like Nexon’s CEO, believe AI is already ubiquitous in the industry, others, like Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser, caution that it’s “not as useful as some companies would have you believe yet.”
The debate doesn’t stop there. Platforms like Steam now tag games made with AI, a practice Epic’s Tim Sweeney calls “nonsensical.” Meanwhile, legal battles loom as the US Copyright Office ruled in 2025 that AI-generated art lacking human creativity can’t be copyrighted. This raises a bigger question: Is AI a revolutionary tool or a creative crutch?
Data specialist Joost van Dreunen sums it up bluntly: “Nobody wants AI slop.” But what constitutes “slop” versus innovation? Revolution Software’s Charles Cecil called his use of AI in Broken Sword “an expensive mistake,” while voice actor Troy Baker urges the industry not to “demonize” AI, arguing it “cannot create art.”
So, where do you stand? Is Hooded Horse’s hardline stance a necessary safeguard for artistic integrity, or an overreaction to a technology still finding its place? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
