Wizards of the Coast, the renowned creator of popular tabletop games such as Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, has once again found itself at the center of controversy. This time, accusations of using AI-generated images have emerged, specifically in relation to the iconic trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. The company’s reputation has been called into question as fans raise concerns about the authenticity and artistic integrity of the card art.
On January 4, the official Magic: The Gathering Twitter account shared a photo showcasing the retro frame of some lands, accompanied by the caption: “It’s positively shocking how good these lands look in retro frame. #MTGRavnica.” This innocuous tweet, however, sparked suspicion among some users who speculated that AI may have been employed in the creation of the images. One user even remarked, “This looks very AI-generated — with some human photoshopping over the top.” A quick glance at the replies reveals a plethora of individuals expressing similar sentiments.
In response to the growing concerns, Magic: The Gathering addressed the accusations through a follow-up post on Twitter. The company acknowledged the confusion but reiterated their position that the art in question was created by human artists, not AI. The statement reads, “We understand confusion by fans given the style being different than card art, but we stand by our previous statement. This art was created by humans and not AI.”
Unfortunately for Wizards of the Coast, this is not the first time they have faced allegations regarding the use of AI in their products. In 2023, it was revealed that the company had utilized AI for the creation of a sourcebook titled Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants. Following the backlash, Wizards of the Coast released a statement vowing to revise their processes and update artist guidelines to explicitly prohibit the use of AI in the art creation process for Dungeons and Dragons products.
Despite their attempts to rectify the situation, the company’s reputation suffered a blow when a YouTuber falsely accused them of employing AI for another book. Although the accusations were ultimately proven false, the damage had already been done, and the trust of fans had been profoundly shaken. To regain this lost trust, Wizards of the Coast made a deliberate effort to reassure their audience that they would not employ AI in the creation of Magic: The Gathering cards. They underscored this commitment by posting a blog entry in which they explicitly stated, “We require artists, writers, and creatives contributing to the Magic TCG to refrain from using AI generative tools to create final Magic products.”
Wizards of the Coast finds itself entangled in yet another dispute centered around AI-generated images. The allegations surrounding the use of AI in Magic: The Gathering card art have raised concerns among fans who value the authenticity and creative expression of the game. The company’s swift response and reaffirmation of their commitment to human-created art seek to assuage these concerns. However, the road to rebuilding trust may be a challenging one, as past controversies have already cast a shadow over the company’s prior actions. Moving forward, Wizards of the Coast must remain steadfast in their commitment to transparency and artistry, ensuring that AI does not encroach upon the integrity of their beloved tabletop games.
Leave a Reply