Indie Dev Ditches AI Game After Girlfriend’s Enlightening Talk
The AI Reckoning: A Love Story
Picture this: You’re a game developer, riding the high wave of creativity, and suddenly, love knocks on your door, bringing with it a whirlwind of ethical debates. Enter Rakuel, an indie game maker who’s just had his eyes opened by none other than his new girlfriend. Yes, while most people get swept away by candle-lit dinners and Netflix binges, Rakuel is reevaluating his entire game dev philosophy!
Breaking Up with AI
In a recent dramatic twist, Rakuel has decided to pull his AI-powered roguelike game, Hardest, from Steam like a magician removing his top hat—only instead of a rabbit, it’s a sizeable moral dilemma. Released back in July 2025, the game features some pretty snazzy AI-generated art and tunes. But as it turns out, this little project is now being called a “disgrace” thanks to a gentle nudge from his partner.
According to Rakuel, he jumped on the AI bandwagon during college, thinking it was all sunshine and rainbows, with mentions of “free tools” and “vast creativity.” However, this newfound relationship has illuminated the shadowy underbelly of AI-generated content, which Rakuel now sees as a serious issue impacting both the economy and the environment.
“The very existence of my game could be used to justify pouring resources into companies that don’t benefit anyone but themselves,” he lamented, feeling like a modern-day Captain Planet, but instead of saving the Earth, he’s saving his conscience.
So, with a heavy heart, he’s decided to give those digital assets the boot. “I can always re-release it with original stuff, but for now, this game… it just can’t stay as is,” he reflects, clearly feeling the weight of his decision.
It’s wild how a little romance can lead to such profound realizations! Rakuel credits his thoughtful girlfriend for this major life pivot. “In just a month, she’s helped me see the light—she’s basically my moral compass now!” he quips.
In the end, whether you’re Team AI or Team No-AI, you have to admire her initiative in making him rethink his gaming choices. But if you were dying to try Hardest while it’s still up, you better hurry. You’ve got about two and a half weeks left before it disappears faster than your last slice of pizza!