Developers of a newly released indie RPG Shrine’s Legacy have publicly rejected claims that their game uses AI-generated content after several Steam reviews accused them of creating “AI slop.”
The accusations targeted both the game’s visuals and writing. In response, the development team issued a statement emphasizing they “poured years” into making the game and “only worked with real human artists on everything.”
Shrine’s Legacy currently holds over 100 positive reviews compared to roughly 18 negative ones. Less than half of those negative reviews actually mention AI at all, but it seems that one user may be spamming negative comments to impact the game’s sales.
One person may be responsible for amplifying the accusations. This individual allegedly posted repeatedly across Steam reviews and gaming communities, circling portions of the game’s art as supposed proof of AI generation. The developers reportedly believe a second critical account may belong to the same person.
Shrine’s Legacy is a pixel-art action RPG in a retro style. Footage shows conventional sprite work rather than the artifacts typically associated with AI image generation. Current generative AI tools struggle with game-ready pixel art at sprite scale, making the accusations harder to substantiate visually.
The writing accusations proved similarly murky. Players who examined gameplay clips described the dialogue as standard genre fare without obvious signs of machine authorship. One theory suggested poor localization or machine translation could make human-written text feel AI-generated, though the English in available footage appeared functional.
When accusations stick
This case points to a growing problem for indie developers. Steam’s review system heavily influences a game’s visibility and sales. Even a small cluster of negative reviews can damage discoverability if they repeat memorable claims like “AI-generated.”
Indie teams are particularly vulnerable. They lack the marketing reach and brand recognition to weather coordinated criticism. A handful of vocal detractors can define public perception before most players encounter the game.
