Developer Rakuel has announced that he will withdraw his roguelike card game, Hardest, from Steam on January 30, 2025. The decision comes after reflecting on the negative effects of artificial intelligence (AI), noting that the use of AI-generated content in his game is now considered a “disgrace” for both video game creators and players. Since its release, Hardest has received a total of 31 reviews on Steam, showing a 54% positive rating, indicating a mixed response from the public.
Not that hardest
In a post made on January 10 on Steam, Rakuel explained that the game was developed during the summer and the use of AI was driven by the abundance of free resources during his university stage. However, the developer expressed that he has come to understand that AI has a hidden cost in economic and environmental terms. According to his statements, the existence of the game could serve as justification for some AI companies to seek more investments, something he considers harmful to working people and to the economy in general.
The decision to remove the game was influenced by his partner, who made him reflect on the risks associated with AI. “The existing game in its current form is a disgrace to all game creators and players”, Rakuel stated. The developer also mentioned that all the code was created by him, which allows him in the future to develop a new game using real assets.
Despite the controversial decision to remove the game, Rakuel believes that his experience with Hardest was a learning exercise and that he intends to create a new project that reflects a more ethical approach to resource use in video game development.