Owlcat Games is using genAI to

Owlcat Games, the studio behind multiple Pathfinder and Warhammer 40,000 titles, has confirmed it is using generative AI (genAI) to help build its upcoming RPG, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.

During a press briefing, Owlcat PR manager Katharina Popp told Eurogamer the team is using the tech for “a lot for prototyping, trying things out, placeholders.” They also stressed that those placeholders will “all be replaced” before the title ships. 

“We use it basically for trying out things on a technical level,” Popp added. “For example, looking how a 2D image looks in 3D, or changing colors to what looks good. So it’s basically for being able to iterate faster. But we don’t use it to write, we don’t use AI voice actors, so everything that will be in the final version will definitely 100 percent be human-made.”

The company hasn’t been coy about using genAI—a technology that has garnered a largely negative reception from developers in recent years, with many arguing that it is having a corrosive effect on the industry. In 2024, Owlcat posted a job listing for an artist that would be tasked with generating concepts “using AI and other modern tools.”

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Shortly after, an artist shared the job listing on social media and called out the mention of AI, prompting a response from Owlcat. “We use AI as a working tool for our future project, which is in the early stages of production right now,” the company said.

“AI will be used exclusively for additional work with concepts and speeding up some internal processes (for example, for creative search, inspiration, or vision coordination before starting conceptualization itself). The final version of the game will not have any art generated by the neural networks. The same goes for the final concepts. Everything will be original and drawn by professional artists.”

At the time, Owlcat said it wasn’t using genAI in any of its existing projects—namely Rogue Trader and Pathfinder..

Generative AI continues to be a hot topic within the game industry. 

Earlier this week, Crimson Desert developer Peal Abyss apologized to players for failing to disclose the use of genAI during production. The South Korean studio explained it created some placeholder assets using “experimental AI generative tools.” Some of those assets were subsequently found in the finished product.

Capcom also told investors that it intends to leverage genAI to “improve efficiency and productivity of game development.” Similarly to Owlcat, the company claims the tech won’t be used to generate in-game assets. Instead, it said it is currently “testing out various methods of usage” across its departments, including graphics, sound, and programming.

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