Balatro Dev Slams AI Art, Claims It Harms All Artists

Developer Locathunk of the game Balatro has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding AI art, firmly stating that he does not support its use in his work. The discussion was sparked after a subreddit moderator indicated that AI-generated art would not be banned, leading fans to mistakenly believe that both the developer and publisher Playstack endorsed it. Clarifying his stance, Locathunk emphasized that he finds AI-generated art harmful to artists and confirmed that both he and Playstack oppose its integration into their community. Affected by this miscommunication, the moderator was removed, and the rules regarding AI art will be updated for clarity.

The controversy stems from concerns about the ethical implications of AI art, such as its potential to undermine traditional artists by reducing demand for human-created works. Many believe it infringes on the creative rights of individuals and diminishes the authenticity of artistic expression in games.

Balatro is a turn-based strategy game known for its unique blend of card mechanics and poker themes. Following its release, the game generated significant success and was recently recategorized from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12 after a successful appeal from Locathunk regarding its classification. This shift reflects the game’s accessibility and its appeal to a wider audience, while still navigating the challenges posed by evolving artistic technologies and community standards.