Key Takeaways
1. FragPunk is a new free-to-play first-person shooter that gained over 110,000 players in its opening week on Steam.
2. Controversy arose over the use of AI-generated art in the game, with players noticing visual flaws and inconsistencies.
3. Despite favorable gameplay reviews, there is growing discontent among players regarding the incorporation of AI art.
4. It’s unclear how much AI art is used in FragPunk, and the game’s Steam page does not disclose any AI-generated content.
5. The situation mirrors past controversies in gaming, such as with the indie game Terraria, and it’s uncertain how the developers will respond to the criticism.
FragPunk is the newest free-to-play first-person shooter that is taking on the likes of Valorant and The Finals. Since its launch, it has gained a lot of attention, surpassing 110,000 players at the same time on Steam during its opening week. However, this rapid rise to popularity has led to some controversy, particularly concerning the use of AI art in its game assets.
Concerns Over AI Art
Users on X, including @EpicNNG and @Gloomffct, have noticed certain features of AI-generated artwork in the splash screen and some items in the in-game store. A Reddit user also pointed out that several in-game skins and stickers exhibit signs of AI creation. These visual flaws include characters having extra fingers, physics that don’t make sense, strange shading and lighting, and overall inconsistencies in the art style.
Mixed Reactions from Players
While the gameplay mechanics have been enjoyed and reviews from players on Steam are mostly favorable, there is a growing discontent regarding the incorporation of AI art into the game. This negative sentiment seems to be overshadowing the otherwise fun experience that players are having.
Uncertainty About AI Usage
It remains uncertain if there are additional instances of AI art within FragPunk. Notably, there is no mention of AI-generated content on the game’s Steam page, despite Valve’s requirement for such disclosures since late last year. TechPowerUp has reported that Valve is wary of AI art due to potential copyright issues that could arise.
This situation isn’t new, as generative AI has previously stirred controversy in the gaming world. We’ve reported on the popular indie game Terraria, which faced its own challenges with AI-generated merchandise. The developer’s response to that issue seemed to bolster support from its fans. It will be interesting to see how Bad Guitar Studios, the company behind FragPunk, addresses this criticism, especially given its more corporate approach.
Awaiting a Response
We have reached out to NetEase, which owns Bad Guitar Studio, for their thoughts on this matter, but we haven’t received a reply yet. We will update this article if they do respond.
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