Balatro Dev Localthunk Tackles AI Art Controversy on Reddit

Localthunk, the creative force behind the popular roguelike poker game Balatro, recently addressed a controversy stirred within the Balatro subreddit community concerning AI-generated art. The issue came to light after a now-former moderator, DrTankHead, who also moderates an NSFW Balatro subreddit, publicly stated that AI art would not be banned from the subreddit, provided it was properly tagged and claimed. This stance was said to be agreed upon after discussions with the staff at Playstack, Balatro's publisher.

However, Localthunk quickly clarified their position on Bluesky, emphasizing a strong opposition to AI-generated imagery. This was followed by a more detailed statement on the subreddit, where Localthunk expressed that neither they nor Playstack condone AI 'art.' They stressed their commitment to not using AI in their game and their belief that AI-generated art harms real artists. As a result, DrTankHead was removed from the moderation team, and a new rule prohibiting AI-generated images was announced for the subreddit.

In response to the confusion, Playstack's communications director acknowledged that the previous rule regarding "no unlabeled AI content" might have been misinterpreted, leading to the misunderstanding. The remaining mod team is set to revise and clarify the rules to reflect the stance against AI-generated content.

DrTankHead, after being removed as a moderator, confirmed the decision on the NSFW Balatro subreddit and mentioned plans to possibly allocate a specific day for posting non-NSFW AI-generated art, although they clarified that making the subreddit AI-centric is not their goal.

This incident highlights the broader debate surrounding generative AI in the gaming and entertainment sectors, which have seen significant layoffs recently. AI has faced criticism from both players and creators for ethical concerns, intellectual property rights issues, and its inability to consistently produce engaging content. For example, Keywords Studios' attempt to create a game solely using AI failed, with the company admitting to investors that AI could not replace human talent.

Despite these challenges, major companies like EA, Capcom, and Activision continue to explore AI's potential. EA has described AI as central to its business, Capcom is using it to generate ideas for in-game environments, and Activision has admitted to using generative AI for assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which sparked controversy over an AI-generated zombie Santa loading screen.