A Promise to the Fog: Dead by Daylight Devs Say No to AI Art and Assets After Job Listing Sparks Concern

In the ever-evolving world of game development, the use of generative AI has become a hot-button issue, sparking debates about art, ethics, and job security. The community for the hit horror game Dead by Daylight found itself at the center of this controversy when a recent job listing from developer Behaviour Interactive was discovered, seeking a “Senior Generative AI Specialist” for its marketing department. The listing, which mentioned experience with “Stable Diffusion” and “generative video” for “image, video, and content creation,” immediately sent a ripple of anxiety through the fanbase, with many players and artists expressing fear that the game’s unique and hand-crafted aesthetic would be compromised. In a swift and direct response, the developers have issued a statement, reassuring their players that AI-generated assets will not be used in the game itself.

The Controversy: Job Listing and Community Backlash

The job listing, which appeared on a professional networking site, quickly made its way to the Dead by Daylight forums and social media platforms. Fans were quick to point out the specific language used, particularly the mention of tools like Stable Diffusion, a popular text-to-image AI model. The community’s concern was multi-faceted. On one hand, there was the fear of a loss of artistic integrity. Dead by Daylight is a game with a very distinct visual style, and its licensed characters, from iconic horror villains to original creations, are a major part of its appeal. The idea of these characters being rendered or created with AI, which can often produce uncanny and artistically flat results, was a major source of concern. On the other hand, there was a deeper, more ethical fear of job displacement for the artists and developers who work tirelessly on the game. The use of generative AI in other parts of the industry has led to accusations of corporate greed and a devaluing of human creative labor.

The backlash was swift, and the community’s response was a powerful mix of anger, disappointment, and concern. The forums were flooded with threads discussing the issue, with many players stating that they would not support the game if it started using AI assets. This level of community engagement and the vocal opposition to the use of generative AI caught the attention of the developers, leading to a much-needed clarification.

The Response: A Firm Policy and a Promise

In a direct response to the community’s fears, a representative from Behaviour Interactive issued a clear and concise statement on the official forums. The developer stated, “We have a very firm policy that prevents the inclusion of anything generated by AI in Dead by Daylight or any other game we’re working on, including marketing assets.” This was the key reassurance the community was looking for. The statement went on to explain the purpose of the new job, clarifying that the company is exploring the use of generative AI to “improve internal workflows” for their marketing and not for anything that will “ship in our games.” The representative also noted that the new role is not on a game development team. This distinction—using AI for internal, non-consumer-facing purposes versus using it for in-game content—was a crucial one that helped to quell the community’s outrage.

This policy is a significant win for fans and a testament to Behaviour Interactive’s commitment to listening to its community. In a time when other major publishers are quietly integrating AI into their development pipelines, Behaviour’s public and firm stance is a refreshing change. It shows that the studio values the work of its human artists and understands the importance of maintaining the game’s creative integrity.

Conclusion: Trust in the Human Element

The controversy surrounding the AI job listing for Dead by Daylight is a microcosm of a larger debate that is currently raging in the gaming industry. As generative AI becomes more powerful and accessible, developers and publishers are faced with a difficult choice: embrace the technology for its potential to streamline workflows and cut costs, or reject it in favor of maintaining artistic control and supporting human artists. Behaviour Interactive has made its position clear, and for fans of Dead by Daylight, it’s a huge relief. The promise that the game’s unique aesthetic will continue to be crafted by human hands, with all the care, detail, and passion that comes with it, is a powerful reassurance. The future of the Fog is safe from the robotic and unnatural, and that’s a very good thing indeed.