Summary
- SuperAuthenti denies using generative AI for Catly, sharing evidence to support their claim.
- Rumors of Catly being a scam or blockchain game are unfounded, according to SuperAuthenti.
- The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about NFTs, AI, and their impact on the gaming industry.
A representative speaking for Catly developer SuperAuthenti recently addressed the accusation that the upcoming title is using generative AI for its in-game assets. Last week’s The Game Awards 2024 event had plenty of big announcements to go along with the presentations and live performances, including a trailer for a fluffy new MMO called Catly. Featured in this trailer was a cute collection of realistic-looking felines playing and frolicking about a colorful living room, as well as what appears to be a human avatar that the player can customize and use to interact with the cats.
However, not long after the Catly trailer was shown off, viewers started accusing developer SuperAuthenti of using generative AI to create the cats and other in-game elements. The growing Catly AI controversy would spread to the game’s Steam description, which appears to read like a group of random words cobbled together. This has raised concerns that Catly might be some kind of scam, and that it might not even launch in the future. Further compounding the issue is SuperAuthenti’s reported ties to Kevin Yeung, who has pushed blockchain and NFT games in the past.
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In a statement shared with IGN, a representative for SuperAuthenti recently stated that the developer has not used generative AI to produce the Catly trailer, and no such programs are being utilized in the development of the game itself. The representative went on to say that SuperAuthenti was “very surprised by such speculations” and stated that they do not think AI is advanced enough yet to generate a video as detailed as the Catly trailer, a sentiment they say is shared with industry experts.
SuperAuthenti Representative: ‘Catly Isn’t AI-Generated’
SuperAuthenti’s representative reportedly provided evidence of their assertions by showing IGN an in-progress version of the Catly trailer from The Game Awards 2024 that showed unfinished shots alongside the final version. The representative also addressed the rumors that Catly is a blockchain game, saying that they are also unfounded. According to them, SuperAuthenti has never issued or owned any blockchain currency or NFTs.
The use of NFTs, blockchains, and generative AI all remain controversial topics among gamers and industry figures, with many artists and actors expressing fear that such software could one day replace their work or take it for use without giving proper credit. Meanwhile, Catly has no official release date, but many believe that it could at least launch for Apple Watch next summer.