On April 14, Replaced was released by Sad Cat Studios and Thunderful, emerging as a well-received 2.5D platformer with charming visuals and attractive set pieces. The title boasts a dark, cyberpunk theme rooted in an alternate 1980s world, with players assuming control of a human-AI hybrid.
Unfortunately, that last part was somewhat miscommunicated by some, leading a crowd on social media to assume AI had made the game in a major way. One review mentioned that Replaced is an ‘AI-based adventure’, prompting confusion that the game’s developer needed to address.
Replaced Was Not Made Using AI
In a recent review, Replaced was dubbed an ‘AI-based adventure that could do with a system update,’ which somewhat understandably perplexed some social media users. This comment ultimately drove Sad Cat Studios to the internet to set things right.
The team explained:
As we have seen, some people misunderstand what IGN means by AI-based. We just want to clarify:
This game was 100% handcrafted. No generative AI was used to make this. What IGN is referring to is the story about AI in an alternative 80s America.
Artificial intelligence in gaming has become a bandwagon topic over the years, with gamers lambasting studios for leaning on generative AI, in particular, to get their projects out the door.
Never mind that studios have been using AI to iterate faster and develop games more efficiently for a very long time. It’s only in the last couple of years that the concept of AI has become a boogeyman for most gamers’ fears, particularly those tied to anything artistic.
To further eradicate any confusion, IGN deleted the original post on social media that drew flak and went back to edit the review, scrubbing that line from the game’s summary. It now reads:
Replaced is a gripping and gorgeous 2.5D action platformer, even though this cyberpunk adventure could do with a system update to completely iron out the bugs.
Did you misread the line in the review, or do you have more common sense? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider gaming coverage, check out the news that Metro 2039 will be deeply political
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
Comments