In a direct challenge to the growing trend of generative AI adoption by industry titans like Ubisoft and Electronic Arts, Hooded Horse—the indie powerhouse behind the breakout success Manor Lords—has taken a definitive stance against the technology. CEO Tim Bender recently revealed that the publisher has begun implementing strict contractual bans on AI-generated assets.
While many high-level executives are quick to champion AI for its supposed efficiency, Bender takes a much more critical view. Speaking with Kotaku, he lamented that the technology has done little more than complicate the creative process.
“I absolutely detest generative AI art. It has made my job harder in numerous ways… it has a habit of infesting projects where it simply doesn’t belong,” Bender stated. To address this, Hooded Horse now includes a zero-tolerance clause in their publishing agreements: “No AI assets, period.”
The publisher’s hardline approach goes beyond final game files. Bender encourages his partner developers to avoid using generative AI at any stage of production. This philosophy is designed to maintain artistic integrity and prevent “AI slop” from inadvertently appearing in finished builds.
Even high-profile titles aren’t immune to these mishaps; the visually stunning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 recently faced scrutiny after placeholder AI assets were accidentally left in a trailer. Bender aims to eliminate that risk entirely by banning the tools from the outset.
“If those tools are used, there’s always a risk that something slips through the cracks—a placeholder that doesn’t get replaced before a build goes live,” the CEO explained. “Because of that, we have to be constantly vigilant. We treat it like a contagion because, frankly, it’s cancerous to the creative process.”
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Source: gamesradar.com
