Ubisoft, the publisher of Assassin’s Creed, is taking quick action to address an image in Anno 117: Pax Romana that unintentionally included AI-generated elements. The company asserts that this image was never intended for the final version of the game.
Dedicated fans of the Anno city-building series noticed a loading screen in the latest installment that appeared to be of lower quality than others. Some features, such as missing limbs and strangely composed elements, pointed to AI generation.
According to posts on reddit and reports from various sources, the game’s Steam page also includes a note that “AI tools were used to help create some in-game assets.” Ubisoft clarified that this particular image was a “placeholder” and shared the intended final, human-crafted version.
“This image was a placeholder asset that unintentionally slipped through our review process,” a Ubisoft spokesperson explained. “The final image is attached here and will replace the current version of this artwork with the upcoming 1.3 patch.
With Anno 117: Pax Romana being our most ambitious Anno yet, we’ve assembled the largest team of artists ever for the franchise and to help meet the project’s unique scope, they use AI tools for iterations, prototyping, and exploration. Every element players will experience in the final game reflects the team’s craft, artistry, and creative vision.“
However, the revised image seems to have been merely polished to remove the glaring AI-generated oddities, implying that other AI-generated content that meets quality standards will remain untouched.
Comparing Industry Approaches
In contrast, Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, recently made headlines for openly using AI-generated images in its latest shooter, notably in its Studio Ghibli-inspired calling cards. The company stated the AI was intended to “empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players.”
Activision had previously admitted using AI imagery in Black Ops 6, but only after fans highlighted a glaring example: a zombie Santa with six fingers.
Reception and Beyond
Aside from the AI discussion, Ubisoft’s Anno 117: Pax Romana has been met with positive reviews. The game has captivated players with its beautiful antique city-building elements, engaging them for countless hours. It has been described as “a gorgeous antique city-builder that sucked me in for dozens of hours,” receiving a high score of 9/10.