Low-quality AI-generated media is saturating nearly every content platform, and video games are no exception. The poorly rendered content, often pejoratively called “slop,” can be tricky to identify at times, especially as tech improvements rev up the realism.
The latest brand to ship AI-generated content? Tencent, the China-based studio behind iOS hit League of Legends: Wild Rift.
X user Aroush first shared the AI-generated animations on social media last week. “Wild Rift China released a cinematic made using AI and it is diabolical,” the post reads. “To think this was an official release that several people approved of … It features Seraphine, Jinx, Aurora, Yasuo & Ezreal.”
Throughout the course of the clip, formerly identifiable faces from the franchise morph into unsettling, unrecognizable entities. The celebratory videos were first shared to commemorate the title’s third anniversary, but one look at the illegible 3D balloons is enough to stifle any excitement.
Intermittent crowd shots between KPop Demon Hunters-like visuals reveal audience members’ uncanny, distorted expressions.
Unsurprisingly, League lovers weren’t thrilled. Riot Games issued a statement via TheGamer following fan feedback:
“Hey folks, yesterday we posted a creator-made video on our official Weibo channel that, frankly, did not hit the mark. When we post content on our official channels, it’s on us to maintain a high quality bar and be clear about where it came from. Thank you for all the feedback, we can and will do better.”
While gamers’ keen eyes are sometimes unfortunate news for studios attempting to cut corners, the potential for AI-driven growth is enough to pull brand leaders in. A brand-new Reuters report says Tencent’s AI-bolstered marketing services boosted revenue 20% year-on-year to 35.8 billion yuan — nearly $5 billion.
From Activision’s amalgamated Crash Bandicoot adverts and Jurassic World Evolution 3‘s gen-AI imagery to Fortnite‘s controversial AI Darth Vader, companies are opting to incorporate AI-generated elements as a means to curb costs. Most notably, perhaps, is Microsoft’s pro-AI initiative. The brand recently terminated thousands of employees worldwide as it embraces AI-generated content. In an internal memo following the layoffs, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent former workers his condolences. Nadella later celebrates profits and “AI transformation” in the same memo.
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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