Gamers Accuse Blizzard of Using AI-Generated Art to Promote Diablo Immortal x Hearthstone Event
A new piece of artwork promoting the upcoming Diablo Immortal and Hearthstone crossover event has incited backlash online, with fans accusing Blizzard of using generative AI to create the image. The claims have racked up widespread attention after a recent Reddit post highlighting apparent visual inconsistencies in the Diablo Immortal artwork went viral over the past few days.
The image in question was posted across Diablo Immortal's social media channels but noticeably absent from Hearthstone's pages, despite depicting characters from both games. This has given rise to speculation that the crossover event is primarily focused on Diablo Immortal, but it's also raised eyebrows given the growing scrutiny over AI-generated content in major gaming franchises. Accusations of AI use have dogged Blizzard in the past, with similar suspicions surrounding the pixel art skins in Hearthstone's Starcraft-themed The Great Dark Beyond expansion last year.
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Posts 7Reddit user Ipyreable drew attention to the Diablo Immortal and Hearthstone crossover artwork by pointing out several telltale signs commonly associated with AI generation. Chief among them is a human ear featuring three conchas - an anatomical impossibility that seems a bit too outlandish even for a fantasy setting like Diablo. Other strange details include a character's hand fading into a background wall, reversed or mirrored card art, and a candle lit with what doesn't resemble any recognizable flame. The table also features loose slices of bread with no plate, and one Hearthstone card appears to depict the game's board itself.
Allegations of AI Use Swarm Diablo Immortal x Hearthstone Promotional Artwork
Alongside the Reddit post, which has amassed over 4,400 upvotes at the time of writing, Ipyreable included a sarcastic comment referencing the $158 King Krush pet recently introduced in Hearthstone, suggesting Blizzard could have afforded to pay an actual artist for the promotional image. This sentiment was echoed in the comments, with users expressing disappointment over Blizzard potentially not paying artists for the Diablo Immortal and Hearthstone crossover artwork, with some also pointing out that real impact only comes about "when people stop buying things with real money." Meanwhile, others expressed resignation, stating that most players won't notice or care, and that the better path forward is to support developers who avoid AI shortcuts.
CloseBlizzard has yet to remark on this speculation, but what's fanning the flames further is the broader context of layoffs at its parent company, Microsoft. Earlier this month, Microsoft let go of 9,000 employees, including around 200 from Candy Crush developer King. More recent reports allege that King has begun using AI tools to replace some of the laid-off staff, which is undoubtedly a worrying sign for artists and developers across the games industry.
