Indie game Hardest, which presents a new twist on rock-paper-scissors, is set to be deleted from Steam on 30 January. While the game hasn’t achieved significant success, the decision to remove it has gone viral, thanks to a blog post outlining a wild but heartening reason.
In a Steam update released on 11 January, developer Eero Laine confirmed Hardest will be removed after just a few months on sale, as his new girlfriend highlighted that using generative AI to develop the game was a ‘disgrace’ to ‘all game makers and players.’
Hardest removed from Steam – quick links
Hardest developer outlines reasons for game removal
As shared, Laine initially created Hardest using AI tools in development and for final art assets, as he was allegedly encouraged to do so by his university, which provided free access to AI tools.
‘I could generate unlimited images for free and so,’ he said.
But now, after conversations with his girlfriend, he’s realised that AI ‘is not actually free’ and has a ‘major effect on the economy and environment.’
‘Some AI companies can use this game just existing as a reason the get more investment for their AI companies, that benefit no one, but rather suck resources from the economy from hard working people,’ Laine said. ‘I coded everything myself, so I can in the future make a new game with real assets if I feel like it, but the game existing in its current form is a disgrace to all game makers and players.’
He concluded that the only ethical, logical thing to do would be to delete the game from Steam, and so it will depart the platform on 30 January.
Why Hardest‘s removal has gone viral
The decision to remove Hardest has gone viral for Laine’s willingness to learn, and for the impact that a conversation with his girlfriend had. As many have pointed out, it’s a relatively mature response to being educated.
While Laine initially created Hardest using AI tools as a means to quickly complete the project, having an open mind and sharing in conversation highlighted just how much potential damage the use of AI could cause.
As mentioned by Laine, generative AI is not a simple solution to issues of time or labour. It typically relies on stolen, copyrighted data to learn, and takes real jobs away from artists, writers, analysts, and other workers. It also has a dire impact on the environment, with the data centres required to run AI processes requiring staggering energy and water resources to stay running.
Despite being encouraged to use AI, Laine has now taken a stance against it, with his Steam update serving as a rallying cry for fellow developers, and an example of the power of education.
Also on ScreenHub: Meta reportedly shuts down Sanzaru Games, Armature Studio, and Twisted Pixel
Meta has reportedly initiated major layoffs within its AR and VR-focussed Reality Labs division, with around 10% of the workforce being cut, and at least three major game development studios shut down: Sanzaru Games, Armature Studio, and Twisted Pixel Games.
Per reporting from Bloomberg and posts on LinkedIn, dozens of developers are now out of work, as Meta’s AR/VR operations are slimmed. In an internal post seen by Bloomberg, Andrew Bosworth, Chief Technology Officer of Meta, described a move away from an investment in the metaverse, into new avenues.
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