The Alters developer forgot to alter its AI text before launch, studio responds after fan backlash

[Daniel Sims]

The Alters developer 11 bit Studios recently admitted to using generative AI during the game's development. Following criticism from eagle-eyed observers, the company announced plans to remove the AI-generated content in upcoming hotfixes.

Soon after the space survival game's release, users noticed a response to a chatbot prompt in a piece of background text, indicating that a writer or artist copied and pasted a large language model's output without oversight or proofreading. Although the detail was barely noticeable, it sparked a hunt for other signs of AI-generated assets, which quickly emerged in the non-English subtitles.

We've seen a wide range of accusations regarding the use of AI-generated content in The Alters, and we feel it's important to clarify our approach and give you more context. AI-generated assets were used strictly as temporary WIPs during the development process and in a very… pic.twitter.com/Me9oyABOrZ

– The Alters | OUT NOW (@altersgame) June 30, 2025

Another chatbot response prompt was later discovered in the Brazilian Portuguese subtitles, suggesting that 11 bit also relied on AI there instead of paying human translators. However, a statement from a translator directed suspicion toward a scheduling mishap.

Handong Ryu, who handled most of the Korean translation, found the same prompt in the same line in the subtitles for that language, suspecting that the company merely used an LLM to translate additional dialogue late in development. According to Ryu, Korean players responded harshly.

The Alters launched to critical acclaim and currently holds a "Very Positive" rating on Steam with over 6,000 reviews. However, many are upset that the Steam page doesn't mention the presence of GenAI, which Valve has mandated since January.

Did The Alters (captain) use a little bit of AI?
byu/EarthlingKira inTheAlters

In an official statement, 11 bit Studios claimed that the AI-generated background text is a placeholder mistakenly left in the final code, which would explain the lack of a disclaimer on the Steam page. The company also confirmed that this is the only such case in the game.

However, 11 bit also admitted to using an LLM to translate subtitles for licensed movies contained within The Alters. Since the company contracted their creation late in development, it implemented temporary AI translations with plans to replace them in a post-launch update, which will also correct the placeholder text. Because 11 bit intentionally left the material in the launch-day version, it presumably should have warranted a Steam page disclaimer. Furthermore, simply using a machine translator like Google Translate, while no less problematic, wouldn't have left behind a GenAI prompt.

The Alters is only the latest example of gamers discovering undisclosed AI-generated material. In February, Activision was caught charging for AI-generated cosmetics in Call of Duty. Black Ops 6's Steam page now contains a disclaimer; Modern Warfare 3's still doesn't. Frontier Developments also pledged to remove GenAI art from Jurassic World Evolution 3 following fan backlash earlier this month.

Permalink to story:

The Alters developer forgot to alter its AI text before launch, studio responds after fan backlash

 

[Eldrach]

I mean - there’s no law forbidding them to use AI - a small gaming company has limited resources and that’s actually where AI could shine, lifting some of the burden from small teams, allowing them to make a more comprehensive game than they’d have money for otherwise.
This if of course totally sidelined from the actual training material of AI - and the ethics of taking portions of art, writing etc. that is copyrighted.

 

[lonetac]

I mean - there’s no law forbidding them to use AI - a small gaming company has limited resources and that’s actually where AI could shine, lifting some of the burden from small teams, allowing them to make a more comprehensive game than they’d have money for otherwise.
This if of course totally sidelined from the actual training material of AI - and the ethics of taking portions of art, writing etc. that is copyrighted.

No law yes, but steam requires you to disclose it. Nothing wrong with using it but if listed on steam, you have to say that it was used. Thats why folks are upset.

I dont get outraged at every use of AI even though I hate it (just feels empty and fake) but if you are using it and trying to cover it up, I do believe there is something wrong with that.

 

[Alfonso Maruccia]

People definitely love all this AI craze billionaire sycophants and unregulated tech corporations are propagandizing as the next big thing in the history of universe.

I'm hopefully, really. Slightly.

 

[m4a4]

It's just another dev tool; a faster way to placeholder stuff (and translate text), along the lines of photoshop. I don't see why this is news. Are people really that bored?

Or maybe because 11 bit made a bigger deal out of it than they needed to, the media is just inflating the story?

 

[ioliveirafarias]

Temporary... until get caught.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

It's just another dev tool; a faster way to placeholder stuff (and translate text), along the lines of photoshop. I don't see why this is news. Are people really that bored?

Or maybe because 11 bit made a bigger deal out of it than they needed to, the media is just inflating the story?

Or maybe people have a problem with AI being used instead of people for creative entertainment, and the company violated Steam's rules by not disclosing that AI was used?

I mean - there’s no law forbidding them to use AI - a small gaming company has limited resources and that’s actually where AI could shine, lifting some of the burden from small teams, allowing them to make a more comprehensive game than they’d have money for otherwise.
This if of course totally sidelined from the actual training material of AI - and the ethics of taking portions of art, writing etc. that is copyrighted.

Problem is, those AI elements rarely, if ever, mesh with the components made by humans. AI work is so soulless by comparison.

Also, 11 bit has multiple successful games under their belt. The creators of Frostpunk couldnt find a staff member to write some dialog? A company of 300 people is "small"?

 

[GodisanAtheist]

It's just a problem till the tech gets good enough and creators get savvy enough that they no longer get caught.

The problem is well on its way of solving itself.

 

[Eldrach]

Or maybe people have a problem with AI being used instead of people for creative entertainment, and the company violated Steam's rules by not disclosing that AI was used?
Problem is, those AI elements rarely, if ever, mesh with the components made by humans. AI work is so soulless by comparison.

Also, 11 bit has multiple successful games under their belt. The creators of Frostpunk couldnt find a staff member to write some dialog? A company of 300 people is "small"?

If they were all working on the same game - 300 wouldn’t be small - but they’re cooking more games in the oven atm. And I agree with your statement that AI is soulless and should only be applied under strict human supervision for mundane tasks (sorting of data etc.).

 

[Theinsanegamer]

If they were all working on the same game - 300 wouldn’t be small - but they’re cooking more games in the oven atm. And I agree with your statement that AI is soulless and should only be applied under strict human supervision for mundane tasks (sorting of data etc.).

300 is a LOT of employees. Sandfall, the studio behind expedition 33, is roughly 34 people. Game companies have become severely bloated. If you have 300 employees and cant find 1 that can write decent dialog, you have screwed up and need to re evaluate how your company is run.

 

[lonetac]

300 is a LOT of employees. Sandfall, the studio behind expedition 33, is roughly 34 people. Game companies have become severely bloated. If you have 300 employees and cant find 1 that can write decent dialog, you have screwed up and need to re evaluate how your company is run.

It does depend on the size and scope of the game but generally, I would agree.

 

[Eldrach]

300 is a LOT of employees. Sandfall, the studio behind expedition 33, is roughly 34 people. Game companies have become severely bloated. If you have 300 employees and cant find 1 that can write decent dialog, you have screwed up and need to re evaluate how your company is run.

Depends on the studio of course, the team that built that Expedition 33 was extremely good - I only know about 2 current studios that can pull off games of such a high quality with a tiny team - Sandfall and Hello Games