According to Eurogamer.net, Supertrick Games, the developer of the newly launched sequel Let it Die: Inferno, has issued a detailed statement clarifying its use of generative AI tools. This follows controversy earlier in the week sparked by a vague AI disclosure on the game’s Steam page. The statement specifies that AI-generated voices are only used for two specific characters, an AI machine and a mysterious life form, as a deliberate creative choice. For art, AI was used to create rough base images for background items like posters, which were then painted over and refined by human artists. For music, AI generated initial audio stems for background tracks in one area, most of which were reportedly rebuilt from scratch by the team.
The AI Transparency Double-Edged Sword
Here’s the thing about being “transparent” with AI use right now: it’s a total minefield. Supertrick did the “right” thing by disclosing it on Steam, and they still got blowback because the initial note was too broad. It basically invited players to imagine the worst—that the whole game was AI-generated slop. Their follow-up statement is a masterclass in damage control, walking that perception way, way back. But it makes you wonder, was the controversy a net negative? For a game launching to mixed reviews on Steam, this probably didn’t help first impressions.
Creative Tool or Cost Cutter?
The big question everyone has is: are devs using AI to enhance creativity or just to save money? Supertrick’s explanation tries hard to argue for the former. Using an AI voice for an AI character? That’s a solid, defensible artistic choice. Using AI to generate a bunch of random poster concepts for an artist to then paint over? That’s… murkier. It sounds less like a creative spark and more like a time-saving asset-creation pipeline. And the music part is the most confusing—if most stems were “rebuilt from scratch,” why use AI at all? Was it a brainstorming tool, or is this just covering their bases? The statement feels designed to placate, but the actual utility seems minimal.
The Broader Stakeholder Impact
So who does this affect? For players, the immediate fear is a drop in quality and soul. The “Mixed” Steam reviews suggest other issues are at play, but the AI controversy certainly didn’t set a positive tone. For voice actors and artists, statements like this are a mixed bag. It’s reassuring that “all in-game characters are voiced by human performers” except for two niche cases, and that artists hand-finished the AI art. But it also normalizes AI as a “base layer” in development, which could slowly erode entry-level opportunities. For other developers, Supertrick is now a case study. They’ve shown that vague disclosure backfires, and that detailed, reasonable explanations can calm fears. But they’ve also shown that even “reasonable” AI use can become a PR headache you have to manage at the worst possible time—your launch day.
