'It Does Real Harm to Artists of All Kinds' — Balatro Dev Localthunk Steps In to Resolve AI Art Reddit Fiasco

Localthunk, the creative force behind the popular roguelike poker game Balatro, recently intervened in a controversy brewing on the game's subreddit. The issue arose from statements made by DrTankHead, a former moderator of the Balatro subreddit and current moderator of a related NSFW subreddit, who had expressed openness to AI-generated art on both platforms.

DrTankHead had stated, "We will not be banning AI art here, if it is properly claimed and tagged as such," claiming this decision was made after discussions with Playstack, the game's publisher. However, Localthunk quickly clarified their stance on Bluesky, emphasizing that neither they nor Playstack supported AI-generated imagery.

In a detailed statement on the subreddit, Localthunk firmly denounced AI "art," stating, "Neither Playstack nor I condone AI 'art'. I don't use it in my game, I think it does real harm to artists of all kinds. The actions of this mod do not reflect how Playstack feels or how I feel on the topic. We have removed this moderator from the moderation team." They further announced a ban on AI-generated images on the subreddit and promised to update the rules and FAQ accordingly.

Following this, Playstack's communications director acknowledged that the existing rule against "unlabeled AI content" may have been misinterpreted and committed to clarifying the language to prevent future confusion.

DrTankHead, after being removed as a moderator of r/Balatro, addressed the situation on the NSFW Balatro subreddit. They clarified that they did not intend to make the subreddit AI-centric but were considering a designated day for posting non-NSFW AI-generated art. This suggestion was met with a user's advice to take a break from Reddit.

The debate over AI-generated content is a hot topic in the gaming and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs recently. Critics argue that AI poses ethical and rights issues and often fails to produce content that resonates with audiences. For example, Keywords Studios' attempt to create a game using AI failed, as the company reported to investors that AI could not replace human talent.

Despite these challenges, major tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI. EA has declared AI to be at the "very core" of its business, while Capcom is experimenting with generative AI to generate ideas for in-game environments. Activision has also admitted to using generative AI for some assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, following criticism over an AI-generated zombie Santa loading screen.