Indie devs say “We’d rather cut off our own arms” after Arc Raiders CEO says people should assume everyone uses generative AI

No matter Lee’s intention, that quote has been circulated widely on social media, and a number of indie developers have used the moment to make their stance clear: many remain firmly opposed to generative AI in their work.

“Hello, not only do we not use AI we would rather cut off our own arms than do so,” wrote the official Necrosoft account, adding: “Demonschool is 100% human made.”

Hello, not only do we not use AI we would rather cut off our own arms than do so. Demonschool is 100% human made.

— @necrosoftgames.com (@necrosoftgames.com.bsky.social) 2025-11-12T19:45:34.371Z

Rogue Eclipse developer Huskrafts posted: “I’m happy to confirm Rogue Eclipse is AI FREE and in fact NOT USED as a part of our process AT ALL! We discourage the use and have ANTI AI USAGE clauses in our agreements!”

I’m happy to confirm Rogue Eclipse is AI FREE and in fact NOT USED as a part of our process AT ALL!
We discourage the use and have ANTI AI USAGE clauses in our agreements!

— @mcdoogleh.bsky.social (@mcdoogleh.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-11-12T19:45:34.308Z

Neil Jones of Aerial Knight wrote bluntly: “We don’t use Ai in our games. Ai isn’t and hasn’t ever been needed to make a good game and CEOs like this don’t know what the fuck they are talking about. They just want to slowly take humans out of the process thinking they can just hit and button and it’ll print money.”

We don’t use Ai in our games. Ai isn’t and hasn’t ever been needed been needed to make a good game and CEOs like this don’t know what the fuck they are talking about.
They just want to slowly take humans out of the process thinking they can just hit and button and it’ll print money.

— @aerialknight.com (@aerialknight.com.bsky.social) 2025-11-12T19:45:34.235Z

Xalavier Nelson Jr., founder of Strange Scaffold, said: “We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA. Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.”

We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.

— @writnelson.bsky.social (@writnelson.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-11-12T19:45:34.401Z

“As long as I breathe air, Artificium will never use the slop machine,” wrote Artificium Games founder Katie Arnold.

As long as I breathe air, Artificium will never use the slop machine

— @kitathanatosdev.bsky.social (@kitathanatosdev.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-11-12T19:45:34.271Z

You get the picture: while I don’t relish defending CEOs, Lee’s remarks read more like an argument for prioritising human creativity than a shrug of resignation. Regardless, indie developers have seized the opportunity to reinforce that human-made art remains vital — and in many cases, preferred.

Meanwhile, Arc Raiders has adjusted duo matchmaking and lowered some cosmetic prices after player backlash; those who already spent Raider Tokens will receive compensation.