According to Eurogamer.net, Ubisoft has admitted that an AI-generated loading screen image made it into the final build of Anno 117: Pax Romana, calling it a placeholder that “slipped through” their review process. The company says the image will be replaced with a touched-up version in the upcoming 1.3 patch, but that hasn’t stopped fans from complaining about the quality and ethics of using AI art in a premium game. The Steam page now carries Ubisoft’s first-ever “AI Generated Content Disclosure,” and fans have pointed out obvious flaws in the image including disfigured facial features, missing limbs, and strange set-dressing. Players are also alleging that the game’s German text localization remains “AI-generated slop” despite the same user highlighting issues two months ago, which is particularly awkward given Ubisoft received six million euros in cultural sponsorship from the German state.
The AI art isn’t subtle
Looking at the original image, it’s painfully obvious this wasn’t created by a human artist. We’re talking about the classic AI giveaways – people with weird proportions, hands that don’t make anatomical sense, and architectural elements that just don’t quite connect properly. The touched-up version Ubisoft plans to use is definitely cleaner, but the fundamental composition still screams “AI prompt.” Here’s the thing – when players are paying premium prices for a AAA game, they expect premium craftsmanship, not something that looks like it came from a free online generator.
This isn’t just about one image
What’s more concerning is that this appears to be part of a broader pattern. According to Reddit user Taubenangriff, the German localization in the release version still contains what they describe as “AI generated slop.” They’ve been pointing this out for months, and the fact that these issues persist in the final release suggests this wasn’t just a one-time oversight. Basically, it looks like Ubisoft is using AI tools more extensively than they’re admitting publicly. And when you’re dealing with industrial-grade computing needs for game development, you’d expect a company like Ubisoft to invest in proper tools and processes rather than cutting corners.
Players aren’t having it
The backlash has been pretty intense. One fan on Steam wrote, “I don’t want to live in a future where every big studio that very well could afford paying artists instead chooses to steal from artists by using AI generated images.” Another put it more bluntly: “If they are going to go with cheap tools in their game, I will wait till the game is cheap.” These aren’t just complaints about quality – they’re about ethics, job displacement, and the environmental impact of training these massive AI models. When you’re a company of Ubisoft’s size, using AI to replace human labor feels particularly cynical.
Ubisoft’s awkward position
Ubisoft’s statement tries to walk a tightrope here. They’re admitting the loading screen was a mistake while simultaneously defending their use of AI tools for “iterations, prototyping, and exploration.” They also emphasize they have “the largest team of artists ever for the franchise.” But that just raises more questions. If you have all these artists, why are you using AI for final assets? And why is placeholder art making it into the release version? The whole situation suggests either poor quality control or that AI is being used more extensively than they want to admit. Either way, it’s not a great look for a company that wants to be seen as a creative leader in the industry.
