Alters Dev Admits Using AI Text, Vows Fixes

11 Bit Studios, the developer behind The Alters, has addressed fan concerns regarding potential AI-generated text and translations in the game, pledging to release updates replacing automated content with manually created assets.

Players recently noticed suspicious text in The Alters' Command Center that resembled AI-generated output, complete with a telltale introductory phrase reading, "Sure, here's a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data:" preceding a Captain's log entry.

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

While the English version contained only these questionable lines, international players discovered translation outputs retaining AI service markers like, "Sure! Here is the translated text into Brazilian Portuguese." This raised concerns about undisclosed AI localization, contrary to Valve's Steam platform requirements.

In an emailed statement to IGN and shared on social media, 11 Bit Studios clarified that the log entry was an overlooked placeholder and represents the game's only AI text instance. Regarding translations, the studio acknowledged using AI for last-minute localization of late-added cutscenes but emphasized plans existed to replace them with professional translations post-launch.

The studio's complete response reads:

We recognize the concerns about AI-generated content in The Alters and want to provide context about our development practices. Our team consistently prioritizes crafted storytelling, with AI assets used minimally as temporary development tools.

One graphical designer employed AI-generated text for background texture prototyping—never intended for final release. While this placeholder was accidentally included due to oversight, we've verified this as isolated and are correcting it.

We've included visual evidence demonstrating how and where this appears to transparently show its negligible gameplay impact.

Certain late-added licensed videos required urgent multilingual support. Facing time constraints, we temporarily used AI localization for approximately 0.3% of the game's total text—always planning professional replacements post-launch, a process now underway.

While we believed delivering translated content outweighed temporary AI use, we recognize we should have communicated this decision transparently.

As AI technology advances, we're evolving our development protocols while maintaining our commitment to transparency about our creative processes.

11 Bit Studios joins other developers facing scrutiny for AI implementation. Recent examples include Frontier Developments retracting AI-generated portraits in Jurassic World Evolution 3 and criticism of Activision's AI usage in marketing materials.

In our review, The Alters earned an 8/10 rating as "an atmospheric sci-fi narrative blending survival mechanics with psychological tension through compelling character dynamics."