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To what extent is AI-generated art acceptable in Ren’Py games?

A topic by hello_world_17 created Aug 25, 2025 Views: 1,130 Replies: 10

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Hello everyone,
I’m currently working on a Ren’Py project (adult/NSFW visual novel), and I’m considering whether or not it’s acceptable to use AI-generated art in the community.

I understand that this is a controversial topic, so I’d like to ask for your honest thoughts on the following scenarios. In which cases do you think it is generally acceptable (or at least tolerated), and in which cases would it likely be rejected or criticized?

Pure AI images – images generated only from text prompts, with no manual drawing involved.
AI based on my sketch – I provide a rough sketch/drawing, and then let the AI generate a polished image based on it.
AI post-processing – I create a complete drawing myself, and then use AI only to enhance or clean up details (like upscaling, coloring improvements, etc.).

My main concern is community acceptance (both among players and other developers), and whether these different approaches are viewed differently.

Any advice, experiences, or examples would be really helpful. Thank you!

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Pop Shop Packs103 days ago(+2)

With how many free resources there are for games, why would you risk the pushback and controversy that comes from using AI? Not to mention, AI generated art often makes your project look cheap and unfinished

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Eldwood103 days ago(+2)

None of these would be acceptable to me. Better to make your game without visuals at all than to taint it with AI.

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redonihunter103 days ago(+3)

To the extent that there is an audience for it, that will accept your AI works, no matter how much involvement AI had and that there is another group that will not care either and ignore your game for any kind of AI. In my opinion people will not like your game because of AI, but despite of it. But if you can't make the game without AI, well, there won't be a game.

Having AI generated graphics is not something to brag about. It is not a selling point, like some people would brag about pixel art.

But you still will have to make a good game either way. There is plenty of non ai games that are unsuccessful.

You can just look for yourself how much AI is accepted

https://itch.io/games/top-rated/tag-ai-generated

https://itch.io/games/top-rated/tag-no-ai

I see very few ai games with over 1k ratings. But there are some. Sooo, it is accepted "enough", but if you can do without, you probably should. I think people that care for AI for AI's sake do not care how you use AI. So if you will use AI, do whatever achieves the best results. And good looking is not necessary the best result, just look at fans of pixel art.

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Cagey Games103 days ago(+3)

Use new tools and have fun with them. Don't let gatekeepers stop you from your own artistic expression.

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hello_world_17103 days ago

Thank you for your answers. I'm not a professional game maker. First of all, as part of my hobby, I'm preparing to make RenFi games by myself. Therefore, it's difficult to create images using free 3D models because I can't afford to invest a lot of money or time in creating graphics sources and I don't know how to use 3D tools. In this situation, I found out that artificial intelligence makes my simple sketches into plausible images, so I thought about using them. I've posted questions to other communities, but I haven't made an exact judgment yet because the opinions are divided. Some people don't tolerate images created using AI, and others say it's okay because gameability is more important than images.

First of all, I don't plan to start the project aggressively right now because I have a separate main job, so I'll think about it more. Thank you for all your comments.

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hechelion102 days ago(+1)

I don't quite understand what you mean by "acceptable."

Is it acceptable for Itch to use it?

Itch allows you to upload AI content without any restrictions, but you must disclose that your game includes AI-created content.

Does the community accept these games?

From what I've seen, I'd say it's divided. There's a large group of people who don't care; they'll play or buy your game if it looks good, regardless of whether it's AI or not.

There's another large group of people who DON'T want to play anything with AI, and this is more or less a matter of personal opinion.

If you use AI, there's a group of players who won't play your game, and there's not much more to it. You win on one side, you lose on the other, but nothing prevents you from creating and sharing your AI-created game on Itch.

Of course, out of respect for your players, if you use AI, be honest and let them know. Itch asks you to check a box indicating whether your game is AI-created.

My personal opinion? (If that's more or less what you're looking to compile)

I don't use (not even to check code) nor am I interested in playing games that use AI, but anyone who wants to create and play that content is free to do so. Just because I don't like a tool doesn't mean I'm a fanatic who wants to force everyone to follow my opinions.

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NoX Productions102 days ago (1 edit) (+1)

Personally, i only create backgrounds with AI and only if i don't have assets that i need already in Daz. So things like a city view that i place at a window or a custom skybox or something in the distance. I never use it to create actual persons for my game, those i still prefer to do manually in Daz

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A Fals Fiction101 days ago (1 edit)

Remember to disclose this use in your project.

screenshot

Edit: I don’t know why the image upload quality in replies is so bad to make the text unreadable. The small font says, “Classification of AI-Generated content is mandatory. Your classification will be used to add additional filtering tags to your project.” The Graphics box is checked.

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Pandora Entertainment99 days ago

"Acceptable" is relative from person to person. But if you ask, what's the general consensus? I'd say most people are in favor of AI as a tool to assist artists rather than replace them. And the AI must be trained using "legally" obtained resources.

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DREAM_SEARCH_REPEAT94 days ago

Personal opinion here. I think it is acceptable if there are no 'deformities' in the image. Specially when talking about a 'chi chi paw paw' game ;-) Weird fingers and 'fish eyes' might turn off many players, or attract those who has really weird kinks.

But talking seriously. I personally consider it acceptable, specially if the rest of the game can hold the experience. Like any well done game.

I think using the 'Pure AI images' or Text2Img is not enough to create a good looking image or to create a specific kind of image (that you might have in your head) also might create images with lots of artifacts, specially if you use a old model like SD 1.5.

AI based on sketches. something like Img2img or using SD+controlnet or Krita AI diffusion might be a good way to start generating images or first versions of sprites, backgrounds, etc. That you can modify after with 'AI post-processing'

I use to create my own images (backgrounds and sprites) to play with bots in SillyTavern and i use a mixture of 2 of your mentioned techniques. I create several images of a character via promp and do a cherry picking, if nothing i like appear, then sketch based. And then i modify over and over using Krita AI diffusion, drawing over it and generate several options with different levels of 'roughness'. Fix weird fingers, faces, change facial expressions, etc. Also, using tools like Pinokio i manage to install an AI that perfectly erase backgrounds from the sprites to get the pngs and also have a face editor where i can change facial expressions using several sliders.

Sorry for the wall of text. Lol

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