Six-fingered AI character shocks RuneScape dev
The world of gaming recently hosted a celebration in Birmingham where the RuneScape developer, Jagex, unveiled its latest vision. However, as the festivities unfolded, the keynote wasn’t just about game updates; it became a bizarre, slightly unsettling glimpse into the unsettling possibilities of generative artificial intelligence.
During the RuneFest, Jagex debuted a trailer for the upcoming Dragon Slayer 2 quest. The visual experience, intended to hype up the new content, featured a player character with an undeniably peculiar anatomical feature: six fingers and a truly bizarre sneaker-like sole on their very not-sneaker armoured shoes.
This startling visual immediately sparked an explosion of commentary across social media, quickly pointing fingers at the use of generative AI. The incident was particularly notable because it followed just days after Jagex had faced controversy over its clothing collaboration with 100 Thieves, further highlighting the rapidly evolving ethical tightrope the company was walking.
The ensuing discussion led to a necessary conversation about creative sourcing. Old School RuneScape‘s Alec ‘Mod Sween’ Sween stepped forward to address the fallout, acknowledging the absurdity of the trailer while simultaneously tackling the deeper systemic issue.
Sween confirmed that the trailer had been removed while an urgent investigation was underway. He explained that the visual anomaly was intentional, admitting, “For that we apologise.”
Despite the humorous nature of the error, the situation underscored a more serious concern about process. Sween reiterated Jagex’s firm policy: the company does not use generative AI to create games, artwork, or creative assets, and they will not knowingly permit it to be used on their behalf. This incident, Sween noted, was a stark reminder that there are significant issues within their internal processes that require immediate attention.
In response to these concerns, the developer announced an immediate overhaul of their review process. Furthermore, Jagex is committing to working directly with and commissioning creators from the community to ensure that the narrative of Dragon Slayer 2 is developed to the standard it deserves.
Ultimately, the situation served as a jarring, if comical, wake-up call for the gaming industry. While the absurdity of a six-fingered character may fade, the core takeaway is clear: as technology accelerates, establishing transparent and ethical boundaries around content creation is more crucial than ever.
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