By The city-building RTS Anno 117: Pax Romana had only recently launched when observant fans detected the obvious indicators of AI-generated artwork in one of the loading screens. Instead of denying it, publisher Ubisoft has committed to substituting the artwork in a forthcoming update.
The artwork in discussion was initially identified by a user on Reddit, as shown below. The scene portrays a Roman feast, with background details and figures exhibiting typical AI errors such as distorted faces and bodies that do not align with human anatomy. It may not even be the sole AI image in the game, as Kotaku has highlighted another visual featuring a duo of Roman senators who are lacking their heads.
An Ubisoft representative informed IGN that the initial rendition of the banquet artwork was always intended to be replaced in the conclusive version of the game.
“This image was a temporary asset that inadvertently passed through our assessment process,” stated the Ubisoft representative. “The finalized image … will substitute the present version of this artwork with the upcoming 1.3 patch.”
As depicted above, the final image seems to be an enhanced version of the AI artwork. This makes the origin of the illustration less apparent. Ubisoft has acknowledged that additional AI tools were utilized for “iterations, prototyping, and exploration.” Nevertheless, the organization emphasizes that the final product of the game “reflects the team’s skill, artistry, and creative liberty.”
This isn’t the sole game recently criticized for AI use. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 seemingly employed AI to create the game’s “Ghibli-style” Calling Cards. Activision later confirmed that some AI was involved in the development of Black Ops 7. Arc Raiders also faced scrutiny for utilizing AI voiceover performances. Congressman Ro Khanna subsequently called for oversight regarding the application of AI.
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