The Let it Die sequel – Let it Die: Inferno – which is coming out next week (4th December), seems to have been built using a considerable amount of generative AI.
Let it Die: Inferno is the somewhat surprising sequel to Suda51 studio Grasshopper’s quirky 2016 action game Let it Die, which mixed action and base infiltration and asymmetric multiplayer to novel effect. There was also a purely multiplayer follow-up called Deathverse, which flopped.
The Let it Die: Inferno Steam page now discloses: “AI-generated content has been used and then edited by our team for certain parts of the in-game voices, music, and graphics.” This content apparently includes background signboard textures, records illustrations, infocast videos and voices and music.
To what degree each of those parts of the game uses AI, we don’t know, but the areas outlined – art, video, voice and music – are large areas, so the game’s AI use could be substantial.
Inferno was only announced to the world a couple of months ago, during a September PlayStation State of Play, so it hasn’t had much of a marketing campaign. Perhaps that suggests a project sped to release, which is, of course, something AI could help achieve.
Grasshopper isn’t involved with the sequel, which is entirely developed by Supertrick Games, co-developer of the original game. And the core of the game has shifted slightly to PvEvP, meaning real-time multiplayer will be a thing here.
Were it not for Steam’s AI disclosure policy, we likely wouldn’t have known about AI use in Inferno until people bought and played it, and noticed it, and reports spread around. In that regard, it’s a helpful tool for shoppers, should they care. But there are people who think AI disclosures aren’t necessary, such as Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney, who believes AI use will be so commonplace there’s “no sense” in making every game disclose how it’s been used. Does it affect your buying decision?