Let It Die: Inferno sparks debate as Supertrick Games reveals generative AI across game elements

Supertrick Games Discloses Generative AI Use in Let It Die: Inferno

Let It Die: Inferno launched on December 3 with an unexpected controversy attached. The sequel to 2016's cult hack-and-slash adventure revealed through its Steam page disclosure that generative AI played a role in creating parts of the game's in-game voices, music, and graphics1

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. The AI-generated content appears in background signboard textures, Records images, InfoCast videos, and portions of the audio experience4

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. Steam requires games using generative AI to disclose this information, a policy that brought the issue into immediate public view.

The original Let It Die, developed by Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture studio alongside Supertrick Games, was a free-to-play title that made no use of AI-generated content1

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. This new installment comes entirely from Supertrick Games, which emerged as a kind of continuation of the original Grasshopper Manufacture when the studio split. The original Grasshopper retained Suda51 and the studio name, while Supertrick kept much of the original staff and remained with parent company GungHo3

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Developer Responds to Generative AI Controversy with Unprecedented Detail

Facing immediate player backlash, Supertrick Games issued a detailed statement explaining exactly how AI tools factored into the development process2

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. The transparency level exceeded what most studios provide when disclosing AI use. For artwork, the team used AI to generate rough base images for background posters and in-game reading material, which artists then painted over, refined, and adjusted by hand5

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. The studio emphasized that the AI tool observes copyright laws and served only as a starting point for human artists.

Regarding voices, only two characters feature AI-generated audio: an AI-driven machine called Mom and mysterious life forms Goz and Mez. "These specific cases use AI-generated voices intentionally to match the nature of the characters," the statement explained2

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. The studio stressed these voices aren't derived from or modeled after any human performers, addressing copyright concerns. All other in-game characters are voiced by human performers, a significant detail given recent industry tensions around AI replacing video game voice actors.

For music, AI touched only one track called Iron Perch BGM. The development team used an AI-based music editor to generate stems, which were then either manually edited or rebuilt from scratch5

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. The actual extent of generative AI in Let It Die: Inferno appears more limited than the initial Steam page disclosure suggested.

Player Backlash Extends Beyond AI to Core Gameplay Changes

The generative AI controversy represents just one source of friction for Let It Die: Inferno. The game shifted from the original's free-to-play model to a $25 price tag while retaining microtransactions for healing consumables and cosmetics5

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. More significantly, the sequel abandoned the original's beloved asynchronous multiplayer system for direct PvEvP gameplay resembling an extraction shooter format. The original game saved your character when you died and sent it to fight other players during their runs—a creative feature that distinguished it from typical multiplayer experiences.

This shift toward real-time PvEvP puts Let It Die: Inferno closer to the less successful battle royale spinoff Deathverse: Let It Die than the original game5

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. Steam reviews reflect this division, with the game receiving a Mixed overall response. "First negative review I've written," wrote one fan. "LiD was fire. LiD: Inferno is a PVP only game"5

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. However, some players defend the game, arguing that microtransactions don't include weapons and armor, the AI is barely noticeable, and PVP can be avoided by players who crouch to signal they don't want to fight.

Broader Implications for AI Disclosure in Game Development

The Let It Die: Inferno situation highlights growing tensions around AI in creative industries. SAG-AFTRA video game voice actors recently ended a year-long strike that secured protections against AI, though these protections don't prevent studios from implementing AI in their games1

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. Steam's AI disclosure policy proved valuable in informing consumers before purchase, though some industry figures like Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney believe AI use will become so commonplace that disclosure requirements make "no sense"4

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The case demonstrates a tension between human creativity and AI-assisted production. Voice actor Jennifer English recently spoke about the power of "beautiful, creative, human brains," a sentiment that resonates with fans concerned about AI eroding the distinctive style that made the original Let It Die memorable3

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. Whether Supertrick Games' approach—using AI as a tool within a human-led development process—represents an acceptable middle ground remains a question each player must answer individually. What's clear is that transparency matters, and studios willing to detail exactly how AI factors into their work may face less skepticism than those offering vague disclosures.