Duke Nukem Remaster Criticized For AI-Generated Cover Art

Niche retro gaming brand Blaze Entertainment, creator of the handheld Evercade, today revealed a remaster of Duke Nukem 1 and 2 for its platform, but some fans were more concerned with the quality of the remaster’s cover art. As Twitter users quickly pointed out, the Duke Nukem 1+2 Remastered art posted by the Evercade account was obviously AI-generated.

Blaze has since deleted the tweets, but other Twitter users have re-shared the image in question. It displays all the hallmarks of AI-generated art, from weird-looking hands to a heaped pile of stuff that doesn’t quite resemble anything.

While Blaze has since deleted all tweets about or containing the art, screenshots from users show that the account originally doubled down in support of the commissioned artist. Blaze has since posted a statement from developing studio Blaze Entertainment acknowledging the original image was AI-generated, adding that it will be commissioning a new piece of art to replace it where possible.

“An artist was commissioned to produce a lead image for the new Duke Nukem 1+2 Remastered game developed by Blaze Entertainment,” the statement reads. “It is abundantly clear from the response on social media that the work on this commission has fallen below the expectation and standards demanded by fans due to the artists’ use of AI in the process.

We are immediately removing the art where possible to do so and will be announcing a replacement commission in due course that better meets the high standard expected.”

Twitter users tracked down the artist behind the original image, Oskar Manuel, who describes themselves on their ArtStation as a “professional hybrid concept artist.”

Users commenting on the controversy shared concern that this may happen more often, as AI-generated imagery proliferates through all levels of the artistic community.