The Alters Faces Backlash Over Undisclosed AI-Generated Content and Translation Errors

The Alters (11 Bit Studios)

11 Bit Studios is catching heat from players after signs of undisclosed AI-generated content were found in The Alters, their latest sci-fi survival game. The issue surfaced when fans began spotting what looked like unedited AI prompt responses in various parts of the game—raising questions about transparency and localization quality.

One of the first examples came from a background terminal meant to display scientific data (Thanks, Eurogamer). Instead of lore-rich text or gibberish filler, players noticed it began with: “Sure, here’s a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data”—a phrase that sounds straight out of a chatbot response. While that might seem like a harmless detail, it’s become part of a much bigger conversation.

Image via r/EarthlingKira

Things escalated when a Brazilian Portuguese player shared screenshots of the game’s subtitles, which included phrases like, “Sure! The text translated to Brazilian Portuguese is…”—again, clear evidence that raw AI output had slipped through.

Image via Heitor De Paola on Bluesky on Wrong Brazilian Translation

Similar issues popped up in the Korean version too. Translator Handong Ryu confirmed that some localized sections show signs of being passed through a large language model without proper human editing.

The problem? Since January 2024, Valve has required developers to disclose any use of AI-generated assets—text, art, code, or sound—on their Steam game pages. The Alters doesn’t mention any of that.

This led to an outpouring of frustration online. “Steam requires devs to be honest about AI use. This is not okay,” one player wrote on the game’s community page.

Not everyone sees it as a big deal. Some players argue that background text like this is just filler, similar to placeholder lorem ipsum, and isn’t meant to be read. But others believe the issue cuts deeper—especially when narrative and world-building are key parts of the game experience.

Despite criticism, The Alters still holds a strong 84 score on Metacritic and a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, so it’s clear many players are still enjoying the game. But with scrutiny around AI use in games heating up, developers may have to be more upfront moving forward—because players are definitely paying attention.

UPDATE: 11 Bit Studios confirmed they used AI and issued a detailed statement across social media. The studio explained that the AI-generated text was intended as a temporary placeholder during development and was mistakenly left in due to internal miscommunication.