Frontier Developments has announced they’re abandoning plans to use generative AI for creating scientist portraits in the upcoming Jurassic World Evolution 3. The studio initially intended to use AI technology to generate diverse character images for the park management simulation, but quickly reversed course after negative feedback from players.
The decision specifically affects the portraits representing scientists who work in players’ dinosaur parks—a feature that has become somewhat iconic in the series. In previous games, these portraits were created using traditional methods and became recognizable enough to inspire memes within the community.
“There are better uses for AI in games than replacing artists,” summarizes the sentiment expressed by many fans when the initial AI plan was revealed. Critics pointed out that using AI to create portraits seemed unnecessary when human artists could deliver higher quality, more authentic results.
The Jurassic World Evolution series puts players in charge of building and managing dinosaur theme parks inspired by the famous film franchise. Players must balance park attractions, dinosaur welfare, safety concerns, and staff management, including the scientists who appear in these now-contested portraits.
This reversal comes at a time when there are growing concerns throughout the gaming industry about AI-generated content. While some developers see AI as a way to speed up production and reduce costs, others worry about the ethical implications, potential copyright issues from AI training data, and the replacement of human creativity.
Frontier hasn’t announced any broader policy changes regarding AI use in other aspects of the game or future titles. However, the quick response to community feedback shows the company’s willingness to change direction when players raise concerns.
The situation is similar to what happened at other studios, including when the developers of The Finals received heavy criticism for using AI-generated voices. For Frontier, the stakes may be particularly high given their partnership with Universal’s valuable Jurassic Park intellectual property.
