Machinarium AI tribute cops a flogging from studio: 'This looks disgusting and has nothing to do with us or our craft'
Amanita Design criticized Nura Studios for an AI-generated Machinarium tribute, calling it disrespectful to their craft, while Nura apologized for the post.
On October 20, Nura Studios, an AI storytelling company, posted a now-deleted video tribute to Amanita Design’s 2009 game Machinarium. The tribute was AI-generated and widely deemed low-quality, prompting immediate backlash. The video’s removal followed swift criticism from the Czech studio, which described the tribute as 'disgusting' and unrelated to their artistic process.
Amanita Design responded sharply on social media, stating the AI tribute lacked the handcrafted effort of their original work. The studio emphasized that genuine tributes require human creativity, not machine-generated content. Nura Studios’ CEO, Sylvio Drouin, later issued a public apology, acknowledging the post was intended as homage but acknowledging its poor execution.
Nura Studios describes itself as aiming to empower creators with AI tools for storytelling, though its website and recent actions drew scrutiny. The company’s mission contrasts with Amanita Design’s emphasis on traditional craftsmanship. Drouin’s apology did not immediately resolve the dispute, as Amanita Design has not publicly accepted it.
Amanita Design’s next project, Machinarium 2, was announced earlier this month, marking a significant development for the studio. The company’s response highlights its protective stance toward its artistic identity and legacy. The incident underscores tensions between AI-generated content and traditional game development.