Recently, Andrew Clayton, who developed the virtual tabletop software Foundry, expressed strong discontent with Hasbro’s increasing integration of AI technology in the game industry, particularly concerning Dungeons & Dragons. In a recent interview, he labeled Hasbro’s use of AI as ‘a betrayal of the creative individuals’ who have shaped the tabletop roleplaying game segment into what it is today.

“A betrayal of the creative people who made the TTRPG industry what it is.”

Clayton points to how Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, has dealt with backlash regarding AI-generated artwork in its publications. Notably, Hasbro’s CEO, Chris Cocks, has publicly advocated for AI’s utilization within the gaming landscape, a stance that starkly contrasts with Foundry’s dedication to traditional methods of game development.

Clayton argues that AI-generated content is fundamentally exploitative, stealing the intellectual properties of artists and resulting in lifeless, derivative outcomes. He firmly believes that, without addressing legal and ethical issues surrounding this technology, it cannot be responsibly integrated into tabletop gaming.

In Summary

• Foundry VTT has a partnership with D&D but maintains a strict anti-AI position.
• Clayton advocates for the genuine creativity of human artists and warns against the rise of AI in game design.