Developer to Take Down AI-Created Game from Steam After Girlfriend’s Critique of AI Technology

Developer to Take Down AI-Created Game from Steam After Girlfriend's Critique of AI Technology


**Indie Developer Eero Laine to Take Down AI-Generated Card Game *Hardest* from Steam**

In an unexpected development, indie developer Eero Laine has declared the withdrawal of his AI-generated roguelike card game, *Hardest*, from the Steam platform. This choice follows introspections sparked by a new relationship and worries regarding the moral consequences of artificial intelligence in gaming.

Laine’s venture into game development commenced in the summer of 2025, utilizing complimentary tools supplied by his university. The game, which debuted in July 2025 and was accessible for free, showcases unique artistic and gameplay features reminiscent of *Balatro*. However, Laine has now acknowledged the negative impacts that AI technology can impose on both jobs and the environment.

In a sincere post titled “AI Is Bad,” Laine conveyed remorse for incorporating AI-generated content in *Hardest*. He remarked, “I developed *Hardest* during the summer in a few months and thought to utilize AI because in university there is so much indoctrination on students and all the tools are provided for free, so I could create unlimited images at no cost.” Nevertheless, he confessed to realizing that AI is not genuinely “free” and contended that it siphons resources from diligent individuals, potentially favoring only AI companies that profit from such initiatives.

Laine asserted full ownership of coding the game autonomously and indicated his intention to undertake future projects using “real assets” instead of AI-generated content. He rationalized his decision to eliminate *Hardest* by stating, “The game existing in its present form is an affront to all game creators and players. Ethically, the only sensible course of action is to remove the game from Steam.” A crucial element in his decision was motivation from a girlfriend he has been seeing for a month, who assisted him in perceiving the situation differently.

While Laine’s choice to pull a game from a commercial platform influenced by personal factors is unprecedented, it mirrors a rising consciousness in the game development community concerning the ramifications of AI technologies. As this story progresses, many anticipate Laine’s forthcoming projects will embody a dedication to ethical game-making practices that emphasize authentic artistic expression over AI-generated shortcuts.