Indie game devs push back with 'AI-free' games
Indie developers are now proudly labeling their games as "AI-free," after Junghun Lee, CEO of Nexon, claimed AI is everywhere in game development.
Many indies, like Polygon Treehouse's Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou, want to keep things human-made and creative.
To show this off, they've started using a golden seal that certifies their games are made without generative AI—perfect for players who value handcrafted artistry.
Why the 'AI-free' seal matters
This seal is popping up on platforms like Itch.io and Steam as indie studios push back against big companies like EA and Ubisoft using more AI.
For these creators, skipping AI isn't about being old-school—it's about keeping creativity personal and genuine.
As D-Cell Games's Jeffrey Chiao puts it, "We can produce results that meet our quality standards without its assistance."