Ubisoft Apologizes for AI-Generated Loading Screen in Anno 117
▼ Summary
– Ubisoft is replacing an AI-generated loading screen image in Anno 117: Pax Romana that was mistakenly used as a placeholder and slipped through their review process.
– Fans have criticized the AI-generated image for its visual flaws and expressed disappointment, expecting better from a premium Ubisoft game.
– Ubisoft stated they use AI tools for prototyping and exploration but emphasized that the final game reflects the artistic vision of their largest team of artists for the franchise.
– Players have also raised concerns about the game’s text localization, alleging it is AI-generated and disrespectful to the German language despite cultural sponsorship.
– The issues with localization persist, having been highlighted by users months prior, adding to the ongoing criticism of AI use in the game.
Ubisoft has issued an apology to players of Anno 117: Pax Romana after an AI-generated loading screen image appeared in the game, promising to replace it in an upcoming patch. The company explained that the artwork was originally intended as a placeholder and accidentally made it into the final release. This marks the first time a Ubisoft title has carried an official AI disclosure on its Steam page, yet the move has drawn sharp criticism from the community, with many expressing disappointment that a major studio would rely on such methods.
Fans quickly identified the image as AI-produced, pointing out distorted facial proportions, missing limbs, and odd background details. Although a revised version has been prepared, some players remain dissatisfied, arguing that a premium game should feature original art created by human artists. One commenter stated they would wait for a price drop, saying, “If they are going to go with cheap tools in their game, I will wait till the game is cheap.” Another player left a negative Steam review, criticizing the environmental and economic impact of AI tools while calling the image an eyesore in an otherwise visually appealing game.
In a statement to Kotaku, Ubisoft clarified the situation: “This image was a placeholder asset that unintentionally slipped through our review process. The final image is attached here and will replace the current version of this artwork with the upcoming 1.3 patch. With Anno 117: Pax Romana being our most ambitious Anno yet, we’ve assembled the largest team of artists ever for the franchise and to help meet the project’s unique scope, they use AI tools for iterations, prototyping, and exploration. Every element players will experience in the final game reflects the team’s craft, artistry, and creative vision.”
![Image showing the AI-generated loading screen from Anno 117: Pax Romana]
Beyond the loading screen, players have also raised concerns about AI-generated text in the game’s localization. User u/Taubenangriff shared multiple examples of what they believe are machine-translated passages, writing that the German localization appears rushed and lacks the nuance a human translator would provide. The user noted, “nobody who has ever played an Anno before was let near translation work, and it is still AI generated slop to a large part. They got six million euros cultural sponsorship from the German state, but the result is outright disrespectful to the German language.”
![Screenshot showing examples of questionable German localization in the game]
These localization issues were reportedly flagged two months earlier, yet they remain in the current build. Anno 117: Pax Romana was officially unveiled in June 2024 as the latest installment in Ubisoft Blue Byte’s long-running city-building series, transporting players to ancient Rome to manage an economic empire. Despite its ambitious scope, the controversy surrounding AI-generated assets highlights ongoing tensions between development efficiency and artistic integrity in the gaming industry.
(Source: EuroGamer)
