Future? No Thanks! dev removes AI-generated voices from game and offers refunds to players who feel “betrayed”
Developer Paolo Pedercini of Molleindustria has removed AI-generated voices from his eco-satire game Future? No Thanks! following community backlash over his use of text-to-speech technology. The removal addresses two in-game characters—an automated toilet and an automated translator in a hair salon—which were originally voiced using AI generation.
Pedercini, who did not initially disclose the use of generative AI in the game, has acknowledged the controversy by both removing the audio content and offering refunds to players who feel “betrayed” by the decision. Refunds are being offered via PayPal and Venmo to affected players.
The developer had previously explained in a blog post that the AI-generated voices were intended as satirical commentary on generative AI itself, given the game’s eco-satire focus. However, the lack of upfront disclosure and the integration of AI voicework prompted negative community reactions that led to his decision to remove the content.
In response to the situation, Pedercini has committed to a different approach for his next project, stating it will be “completely hand-coded.” This demonstrates both a technical commitment and a statement of intent regarding future use of generative technologies.
The incident reflects broader tensions within the gaming community around the use of AI-generated content, particularly when such usage is not transparently communicated to players upfront. The developer’s decision to offer refunds and remove the content demonstrates responsiveness to player concerns, though the initial lack of disclosure has already generated discussion about transparency in game development.