Ubisoft Clarifies AI Art Misstep in Anno 117: Pax Romana as a Temporary Placeholder

Not a day goes by without news about artificial intelligence and its role in gaming! Players have noticed an image with typical signs of machine generation—awkward proportions and incorrect anatomy—on a loading screen for *Anno 117: Pax Romana*. Fans of the franchise took this revelation hard, reminiscing about how the distinctive visual style of *Anno* originally drew them to the series.

On the game’s page on [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3274580/Anno_117_Pax_Romana/), there’s a standard platform disclaimer regarding the use of AI, clarifying that the tools were used only for specific drafts, and the final result is always a reflection of the team’s efforts.

**Ubisoft** has [confirmed](https://kotaku.com/anno-117-pax-romana-ai-loading-screen-patch-ubisoft-2000644399) that the questionable artwork was generated by AI, but stated it was intended as a temporary placeholder. The company noted that this image was mistakenly included in the game build and «slipped through the review system». In update 1.3, it will be replaced with a final version crafted by the studio’s artists.

The publisher emphasized that *Anno 117* is the largest project in the series to date, with an unprecedented number of artists working on it. AI components are only utilized for rough drafts, quick sketches, and idea exploration. All materials encountered by players are a product of human creativity.

The question of using generative AI in game development continues to spark heated debates. Some view the technology as beneficial, while others worry it may overshadow genuine creativity. In response to the growing scrutiny of this issue, **Valve** implemented a requirement last year to disclose any AI usage in games on Steam, ensuring that gamers are aware of what they are purchasing.