A controversy erupted on the Balatro subreddit, prompting the game’s developer, Localthunk, to take decisive action regarding the use of AI-generated art.
The issue, as reported by Garbage Day and Rock Paper Shotgun, began with a now-former moderator, DrTankHead, who also moderates an NSFW Balatro subreddit. The moderator stated they had no issue with AI art content in either subreddit. “We will not be banning AI art here, if it is properly claimed and tagged as such,” the moderator wrote in a post, adding that this decision was made after discussion with Playstack, the game’s publisher.
Localthunk responded quickly, first on Bluesky, stating that neither he nor Playstack approved of AI-generated imagery. He then made a formal announcement on the subreddit, saying, “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.”
He continued, “We will not be allowing AI generated images on this subreddit from now on. We will make sure our rules and FAQ reflect this soon.”
Playstack’s communications director later commented that the rules regarding AI art “should have been clearer.” The existing rule, which prohibited unlabeled AI content, was open to interpretation, and the remaining moderators are planning to revise it.
DrTankHead confirmed their removal from the r/Balatro moderation team on the NSFW subreddit. They also mentioned considering a weekly allowance for posting AI-generated non-NSFW art.
The use of generative AI is a contentious topic throughout the video game and entertainment sectors, especially following recent industry layoffs. Ethical dilemmas, ownership concerns, and AI’s overall ability to create engaging content have fueled debates among creators and players alike. For example, Keywords Studios attempted to create a game entirely using AI — a project it had to abandon, admitting that AI was “unable to replace talent.”
Despite the failures, tech companies are still investing in AI. EA said in September that AI was “the very core” of its business. Capcom is experimenting with generative AI for creating in-game environments. Activision recently admitted to using generative AI for some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 assets, facing backlash for an “AI slop” zombie Santa loading screen.
