“Made Two Billion Because…”: Gamers Left Divided on EA’s Alleged Use of AI for Apex Legends X Final Fantasy Trailer

Apex Legends’ highly anticipated crossover event with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has sparked a heated debate online. The FF7 Rebirth event that is scheduled to kick off this Tuesday has invited the community’s attention for a very strange reason. Following the massive trailer launch of the crossover event in the Battle Royale, a Reddit user ignited fire to an intriguing theory. Well, it looks like EA’s alleged use of AI has not gone down well with fans.

The continued rise of AI has long been an intense topic of conversation. Further, AI’s potential in gaming has also been a hot topic of discussion among industry pundits. With industry giants like Square Enix being vocal about their approach to actively intergrate AI, this shift is more real than ever. But is the community prepared? A recent Reddit speculation has fueled this never-ending debate again as it claims to decode Apex Legends’ latest usage of AI for art! Here’s everything you need to know about this viral claim. 

Does the Apex Legends & Final Fantasy VII Rebirth event trailer use AI?

“EA is using AI art in the latest Apex Legends trailer, a game that made over $2 billion in revenue can’t pay for artists apparently,” a Reddit user wrote, igniting a subreddit discussion. According to the source, the latest official upload made by the Apex Legends developers is a clear indication of AI art. The user even called out specific frames from the trailer that carry numerous imperfections leading to their deduction. Furthermore, the fact that the user found that most of these artistic detailing lacked a fan’s touch added value to their allegation. 

For those unaware, the developers of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have planned a smart marketing strategy before the game’s launch. Through the Apex Legends event, fans will be able to wield the fabled Buster Sword, and players will be able to gather other material that confer additional abilities. New iconic skins are also coming to the game, along with cosmetics inspired by the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The event is scheduled to launch on January 9 for all the platforms.

The use of AI for artistic designs in video games may sound like a new concept, but this has been in plans for a while now. In fact, reports suggest a lot of big names in the industry are looking to master the inclusion of AI in the coming months. The reason behind this drastic transition might be attributed to a lot of factors. 

For instance, the 2023 State of Game Development report claims finding the appropriate talent for gaming creators has been the biggest challenge in recent times. This directly influences the company’s revenue finances. Thus, the companies seek alternatives and Artificial Intelligence might just be the right fit. 

In the case of Apex Legends, there’s no official confirmation on the use of AI in the FF7 Rebirth event trailer. However, the community feels the allegation doesn’t look far from the truth. But how do they receive it? 

Fans debate about the ups and downs of AI in games and the video game industry

A user likened the integration of AI to opening Pandora’s box, suggesting there is no going back and that we have to roll with the times. The user stated, “I hate to break it to the people but there is no going back. Pandora’s box has already opened. Companies that will smartly use AI during game development.”

This user is curious about the developer’s need to use AI. The user posed a question, “They can afford it but from their perspective why would they pay more for something when they don’t need to?”

On the other hand, this user is clearly against the use of AI here. The industry bore witness to a tough situation when several hundreds of people working for various game developers lost their jobs. And with the recent SAG AFTRA sand WGA strikes, it’s no secret that artists are more often than not underpaid and not given enough credit. Raising this issue, a user stated, “Artists are already underpaid, and now this,” highlighting the scary consequences of the AI uprising. 

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Another furious fan called out EA and wrote, “Ehh, there’s a big difference between “can’t pay” and “don’t want to pay.”” The reason for the recent strikes illustrates this point.

Meanwhile, a former industry dev explained the POV of the companies. The user explained that like it or not, this is the new reality and while it’s unfortunate for artists, it’s a business move. The user wrote, “As someone who used to work in gamedev, this is just the reality we’re moving towards.” They further wrote, “Because it was cheaper than an artists actual time, AI art is more or less free and almost impossible to justify not using from a business perspective.It sucks for artists, but get used to it because it’s here to stay.”

What are your thoughts on the debate? 

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