Soulslike Director Says No AI Used in Final Game
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What Is The Relic: First Guardian?
The Relic: First Guardian is a Soulslike action role-playing game developed by Project Cloud Games and published on Steam. The game belongs to the subgenre of challenging, third-person combat games inspired by the Dark Souls series. It addresses the demand for a new, mechanically refined Soulslike experience with a dark fantasy setting. The controversy arose when a preview build was alleged to contain AI-generated assets, prompting the director to publicly confirm that no AI was used in the final game.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Game Title | The Relic: First Guardian |
| Developer | Project Cloud Games |
| Genre | Soulslike action RPG |
| Platform | Steam (PC) |
| Release Date | Not publicly announced (as of article date) |
| Price | Not disclosed |
| Controversy Date | March 2025 (preview build flagged by YouTubers) |
| Director Statement | Confirmed no AI used in final game |
What Sparked the AI Controversy?
In March 2025, several prominent YouTubers analyzed a preview build of The Relic: First Guardian and claimed that certain textures and assets appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence. The allegations spread rapidly across social media and gaming forums, raising concerns about the ethical use of AI in game development. The preview build was an early, unfinished version provided to content creators for promotional purposes.
YouTubers identified visual artifacts and inconsistencies in the preview build that they argued were characteristic of AI-generated content. The studio did not immediately respond, leading to further speculation.
How Did the Director Respond?
The director of The Relic: First Guardian issued a public statement denying the use of AI in the final game. In a post on the game’s official Steam page and social media channels, the director explained that the preview build contained placeholder assets that were never intended for the final release. The statement explicitly confirmed that no AI tools were used in the creation of any final assets.
Director of The Relic: First Guardian “We have never used AI-generated assets in the development of The Relic: First Guardian. The preview build that caused concern was an early version that contained placeholder assets, which have since been replaced. The final game is 100% handcrafted by our team.”
The director’s statement directly refuted the allegations and provided a timeline for the replacement of the placeholder assets. The studio also released a short video showing the development process to further reassure the community.
What Is the Final Game’s Stance on AI?
The final version of The Relic: First Guardian contains no AI-generated assets, according to the director. The studio has committed to transparency, stating that any future use of AI tools would be disclosed to players. The controversy has prompted the developer to implement a verification process for all assets before public builds are distributed.
Project Cloud Games has publicly pledged that the final game is entirely handcrafted, with no AI involvement in art, animation, or level design. The studio also updated its development blog to include detailed breakdowns of asset creation workflows.
Who Is This For?
The Relic: First Guardian is designed for players who enjoy challenging, methodical combat and dark fantasy worlds typical of the Soulslike genre. It appeals to fans of Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and similar titles who are seeking a new experience with refined mechanics. The controversy over AI may particularly interest players who prioritize ethical development practices and handcrafted artistry in games.
Players who value transparency in game development and want to support studios that avoid AI-generated content will find The Relic: First Guardian aligned with their preferences. The game is also suitable for those who followed the controversy and want to judge the final product for themselves.
Common Questions
Did the final game use AI-generated assets?
No. The director confirmed in a public statement that the final version of The Relic: First Guardian contains no AI-generated assets. The preview build that raised concerns used placeholder assets that were replaced before release.
What did the YouTubers find in the preview build?
YouTubers identified visual artifacts such as inconsistent lighting, unnatural texture patterns, and repeating elements that they argued were typical of AI generation. The studio later explained these were placeholder assets from an early development stage.
How can players verify that no AI was used?
The studio released a development video and blog posts detailing the handcrafted asset creation process. Players can also inspect the final game’s files and compare them to the preview build, though no independent audit has been conducted as of the article date.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on a single primary source: the Kotaku article titled “Director of New Soulslike Says No AI Used in Final Game After Big YouTubers Sounded the Alarm Over a Recent Preview Build,” published on March 27, 2025. The director’s statement was quoted directly from that article. No additional sources were used. All facts, dates, and quotes are derived from the Kotaku report. This article was last updated on March 28, 2025.