Future? No Thanks! dev removes AI-generated voices from game and offers refunds to players who feel "betrayed"
Developer Paolo Pedercini removed AI-generated voices from *Future? No Thanks!* and offered refunds after backlash, while defending his satirical use of the technology.
Lead developer Paolo "Molleindustria" Pedercini has removed two AI-generated text-to-speech voices from the game *Future? No Thanks!* following public criticism. The voices belonged to an automated toilet and a translator in a hair salon, used as a satirical nod to generative AI. Pedercini initially defended the voices as part of the game’s ecosatirical tone but later conceded they created "bad optics" despite his personal belief the game is only "0.001% worse" without them.
Pedercini also announced a small gameplay tweak to increase earnings from side jobs, aiming to prevent players from soft-locking before completing all quests. His decision to remove the AI voices came after a backlash on social media and press coverage, which he described as disproportionate to the minor use of the technology. He expressed frustration at being publicly criticized for a disclosure he considered minor, particularly after someone on Bluesky shared his blog post.
In a lengthy blog post, Pedercini criticized the broader industry’s lack of transparency around AI use, noting that Valve’s Steam policy allows generative AI for "efficiency" tools like coding assistants without requiring disclosure. He argued that many developers likely use AI tools without public acknowledgment, framing Valve’s policy as more symbolic than enforceable. Pedercini also shared a list of developers who have publicly sworn off generative AI, urging players to support them amid what he described as an influx of low-quality AI-generated content on Steam.
Pedercini admitted his initial blog post defending the AI voices was poorly written and hastily published, acknowledging it as "defeatist" and overly defensive. He compared the backlash to the harassment seen during Gamergate, singling out supporters of actor Adam Baldwin for their role in the campaign. He concluded by stating his next game will be "completely hand-coded" and reiterated his support for developers who reject generative AI entirely.