The use of generative AI in games has been highly contested by players and developers alike, and the latest title to receive the ire of the gaming community over this is Catly. Revealed during the 2024 Game Awards, it’s said to be a AAA open-world MMO by developer SuperAuthenti featuring different types of cats and a vibrant environment to explore.
Catly‘s reveal trailer showed realistic-looking cats chilling out and playing in a colorful living room, as well as a glimpse of a human character that can be customized along with the cats. Despite its eye-catching design, many have accused Catly of using AI to create the feline characters, cosmetics, and several other elements, and that it’s allegedly a scam.
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Is Catly More Than Just a Cute MMO?
According to Catly‘s Steam page, it seems like players could play as both humans and cats to embark on adventures in vibrant locations. The full description makes it sound like the game is a cozy life sim in MMO form and will allow players to build relationships with their cats, which is admittedly an interesting concept. Even more interesting is that Catly will have a companion app for Apple Watch, which will allow players to watch over their cats while on the go, adding another layer of immersion.
- Catly’s supported platforms: PC, Switch, and Apple Watch
As mentioned, many people accused SuperAuthenti of using generative AI to create the hyperrealistic cats and the eccentric-looking cosmetics in the game, which can also be viewed on Catly‘s website. While some believe that the trailer shown during The Game Awards wasn’t necessarily made with AI, their point still stands regarding the character models. But what really raises alarms, though, is Catly‘s Steam description, which appears to be random words jumbled up. This detail seemed to convince many people that the game might be a scam, further noting that the worst-case scenario is that it might not even launch in the future. Plus, some don’t believe that Catly can run properly on the Switch or Apple Watch if it does have the same hyperrealistic graphics in-game.
Catly
doesn’t have an official release date yet, but the website for the Apple Watch app says that it’s expected to come out on June 1, 2025. Of course, this is still subject to change in the coming months.
The controversy around Catly continues to grow online as people start questioning developer SuperAuthenti. Twitter user NotPeashyBee shared that the studio is connected to a certain Kevin Yeung, who’s reportedly known for pushing blockchain and NFT games. Others have also expressed their suspicions about how a relatively new studio is releasing an AAA MMO game, and already getting well-known influencers like Ninja to promote it.
Both generative AI and blockchain have stirred many discussions about ethical use in various media and businesses because of the potential risks to the environment. Many gamers and developers alike have expressed their disapproval of AI and blockchain, especially the former, as many people have lost their jobs because of their company’s preference for the technology.
As of writing, SuperAuthenti has not released a statement addressing the claims that Catly used AI-generated elements and the accusations that it’s a blockchain scam. With the controversy already surpassing the supposed hype for the game, there’s no knowing how Catly will be received once it officially launches. At the same time, it’s still possible that the cat MMO might turn things around and leave a good impression on players, perhaps through a demo showcasing its customization features like what InZOI did.