The Alters Developer Confirms Use of AI-Generated Content and Promises Future Improvements
Developer Acknowledges Use of AI in The Alters
11 Bit Studios, the developer behind The Alters, has officially addressed recent concerns raised by players regarding the use of generative AI technology in the game. The studio admitted that some AI-generated text and translations were inadvertently included in the final release. They have committed to replacing these elements with handcrafted, professional assets through upcoming updates.
What Players Discovered
Last week, eagle-eyed players spotted AI-like text within the game environment, specifically on a screen in the Command Center. The suspicious line read: “Sure, here’s a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data:” followed by a Captain’s log entry. This suggests that an AI tool was prompted to generate this text, and the lead-in was accidentally left intact in the final version.
Additionally, players noticed that some of the game’s localized translations contained similar AI-generated cues, such as “Sure! Here is the translated text into Brazilian Portuguese.” This further fueled speculation that AI was used for certain translation tasks, especially in the absence of a clear disclosure on the game’s Steam page, which is a standard requirement for titles using such technology.
Official Response from 11 Bit Studios
In an official statement sent via email and shared across social media, 11 Bit Studios explained the circumstances surrounding the AI content. They clarified that the AI-generated text was intended only as a temporary placeholder during development and was not meant to be part of the final game. The studio emphasized that no other instances of AI-generated content are present in the game.
The studio detailed that the translation involving AI was limited to a few late-stage cutscenes requiring urgent localization. They assured fans that these translations were always slated for replacement by professional linguists, and this process is now underway. The company also provided transparency by sharing a screenshot showing where the AI-generated text appeared in the game, aiming to reassure players about the limited scope of the issue.
Details on the Use of AI for Localization and Development
According to the studio, the AI translations were used solely for a handful of external movie clips that players can watch in the social area of the game’s base. These clips were added late in development to meet tight deadlines, and the team decided to utilize AI to quickly localize them rather than involve external translation agencies at the last minute.
11 Bit Studios highlighted that these external movies comprise roughly 10,000 words out of a total of 3.4 million words across all languages—less than 0.3% of the entire game. The company acknowledged that opting to release these clips in English only would have been a poorer experience for non-English speakers, and admitted that not informing players about the AI usage was a mistake.
Commitment to Transparency and Future Improvements
The studio stated that as AI tools continue to evolve, they are actively refining their internal processes to better manage their integration into development workflows. They emphasized their commitment to transparency and to maintaining high-quality, handcrafted storytelling in their games.
In their words, “AI-generated assets were used strictly as temporary WIPs during development and in a very limited manner. Our team has always prioritized meaningful, handcrafted storytelling as one of the core principles of our game.”
They further explained that an oversight during production led to one placeholder AI-generated text being mistakenly left in the final release, but assured that this was an isolated incident. The affected asset is currently being updated.
Broader Context: AI in the Gaming Industry
The Alters is not the first game to face scrutiny over AI usage. Recently, other titles like Jurassic World Evolution 3 and various projects from major publishers have come under fire for similar reasons. Some developers have used AI for specific tasks, such as character portraits or localization, often citing time constraints or resource limitations.
Despite these challenges, The Alters has received positive reviews, earning an 8 out of 10 in our assessment. Critics praised its atmospheric sci-fi storytelling and engaging resource management mechanics, which successfully build tension and emotional depth throughout the narrative.
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Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter dedicated to delivering in-depth coverage of the gaming industry. For the latest updates and insights, she can be found on social media platforms. If you have a story tip, feel free to reach out via email.
Alex "Pixel" Petrov
Gaming journalist & industry insider. Covers the latest game releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes dev stories. Knows every Easter egg, patch note, and upcoming title worth hyping. Always gaming, always analyzing.