"Balatro Dev Localthunk Tackles AI Art Reddit Controversy"

Localthunk, the creative force behind the popular roguelike poker game Balatro, recently intervened to address a controversy stirred up within the game's subreddit community. The issue arose from statements made by DrTankHead, a now-former moderator of the Balatro subreddit, who also moderated a NSFW version of the subreddit. DrTankHead had voiced support for AI-generated art on both subreddits, stating that such content would not be banned if it was appropriately tagged and claimed. This stance was purportedly agreed upon after discussions with Playstack, the game's publisher.

However, Localthunk quickly clarified the situation by posting a statement on Bluesky and then directly on the subreddit. They made it clear that neither they nor Playstack condone AI-generated art. Localthunk emphasized their opposition to AI art, citing its potential harm to artists and confirmed that it was not used in Balatro's development. As a result, DrTankHead was removed from the moderation team, and a new policy was announced: AI-generated images would no longer be permitted on the subreddit, with forthcoming updates to the rules and FAQ to reflect this stance.

In a follow-up, Playstack's communications director acknowledged that the previous rules might have been ambiguous, as they mentioned "no unlabeled AI content," which could be misinterpreted as allowing AI content. The remaining moderators plan to clarify these rules to prevent future misunderstandings.

DrTankHead, after being removed as a moderator, posted on the NSFW Balatro subreddit, stating that while they do not intend to make the subreddit focused on AI art, they are considering designating a specific day for posting non-NSFW AI-generated art. This proposal received mixed feedback from the community, with some suggesting that DrTankHead take a break from Reddit.

The debate over AI-generated content in gaming and entertainment is highly relevant, especially given the recent layoffs in these industries. The use of AI has sparked significant criticism due to ethical concerns, intellectual property rights, and the often subpar quality of AI-produced content. For example, Keywords Studios' attempt to develop a game entirely with AI failed, with the company reporting to investors that AI could not replace human talent.

Despite these challenges, major tech and gaming companies continue to invest heavily in AI. Electronic Arts (EA) has declared AI to be at the core of its business, while Capcom is experimenting with generative AI to generate numerous ideas for in-game environments. Most recently, Activision faced backlash for using generative AI in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, particularly over an AI-generated "zombie Santa" loading screen that was dubbed "AI slop" by the community.