Key Takeaways:
- Despite the controversy, the game maintains a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, showing mixed player sentiment.
- The Alters is being criticized for using AI-generated content without disclosure, violating Steam’s rules.
- Translation inconsistencies, especially in the Brazilian Portuguese and Korean versions, point to unedited LLM use.
Generative AI Sparks Player Outrage
The Alters, developed by 11 Bit Studios, is experiencing community backlash after players discovered signs of undisclosed AI-generated content in the game. The controversy revolves around the use of large language models (LLMs) for translations and in-game visuals—practices that violate Steam’s transparency rules, which require developers to disclose any AI use in both development and marketing.
Over the past 24 hours, The Alters has received a surge of negative reviews on Steam. Most of the criticism stems from the presence of poorly edited text, unnatural translations, and visual elements that appear to be AI-generated. While the game is still praised by some for its overall quality, the undisclosed AI usage has significantly soured player perception.
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Translation Failures Raise Red Flags
One of the most prominent issues involves the Brazilian Portuguese localization. In-game text features phrasing that resembles AI prompt formatting, raising suspicions about how the translation was handled. Game localization expert Lucile Danilov highlighted this in a widely shared LinkedIn post, proposing two potential causes: rushed human translation or the unchecked use of LLMs.
Her second theory—that AI was used to quickly fill in missing dialogue—was later confirmed by a Korean translator involved in the project. They acknowledged that portions of the Korean version show clear signs of LLM output that was never properly edited or verified, reinforcing concerns about corners being cut during localization.
Despite Controversy, Game Maintains Strong Ratings
The Alters launched on June 13, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. Despite the backlash, the game currently holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam with over 6,000 reviews. This indicates that while players are upset over the AI controversy, the underlying gameplay and narrative still resonate with much of the community
Conclusion:
The situation surrounding The Alters highlights the growing tension between AI-assisted game development and transparency with players. As the use of generative AI continues to rise, studios may face increasing scrutiny if they fail to disclose such tools in accordance with platform policies.
