In an unexpected twist for the detective sim Shadows of Doubt, a busy toilet reportedly prevented murders in its gameplay. During a presentation at AdventureX, the game’s lead writer, Stark Holborn, shared that an illegally selling weapon vendor became the focus of humorous gameplay mechanics. Holborn explained:

“Murders weren’t happening, and we couldn’t figure out why. Eventually, we realized it was because the illegal weapon seller was the only place at night that had a toilet. AI citizens were all trying to go to the toilet, making it so busy that the killer couldn’t get in to buy a weapon.”

This revelation highlights the unique and sometimes silly ways in which AI interactions can shape player experiences. Holborn mentions:

“You can’t always legislate for the fact that everyone’s going to need a wee at midnight.”

The game successfully integrates player decisions with emergent storytelling, where actions and scenarios unfold based on AI’s constant activities, indicating that the narrative isn’t simply told but lived through gameplay.