"Balatro Dev Localthunk Tackles AI Art Controversy on Reddit"

Localthunk, the developer behind the popular roguelike poker game Balatro, recently intervened in a dispute on the Balatro subreddit sparked by a moderator's stance on AI-generated art. The controversy, initially highlighted by Garbage Day and Rock Paper Shotgun, revolved around DrTankHead, a former moderator of both the main Balatro subreddit and a NSFW Balatro subreddit.

DrTankHead had publicly stated that AI-generated art would not be banned from the subreddits, provided it was properly labeled and tagged. This decision, according to the moderator, was made after discussions with Playstack, the game's publisher. However, Localthunk quickly clarified on Bluesky that neither they nor Playstack supported AI-generated imagery in their game or community.

In a detailed statement on the subreddit, Localthunk expressed a strong opposition to AI "art," emphasizing that it harms artists and is not used in Balatro. They also announced DrTankHead's removal from the moderation team and confirmed that AI-generated images would no longer be allowed on the subreddit. Playstack's communications director later admitted that the existing rules could have been clearer, leading to the misinterpretation. The remaining moderators are set to revise the rules to explicitly ban AI-generated content.

DrTankHead, after being removed, confirmed their dismissal on the NSFW Balatro subreddit and mentioned considering a dedicated day for posting non-NSFW AI-generated art. This proposal received mixed reactions from the community, with one user suggesting DrTankHead take a break from Reddit.

The debate over AI in gaming is part of a broader conversation in the entertainment industry, where generative AI has been a contentious issue. Despite significant layoffs and criticism over ethical and rights issues, tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI. For example, Keywords Studios attempted an all-AI game that failed, yet companies like EA and Capcom are pushing forward with AI integration in their projects. Activision's use of AI for assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 also stirred controversy, particularly with an AI-generated zombie Santa loading screen that drew significant backlash.