House House, the Australian independent game developer recognized for their popular title 'Untitled Goose Game,' recently confirmed its minimal utilization of artificial intelligence, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), in the concluding stages of their latest game, 'Big Walk.' This information was shared voluntarily as part of their submission for the upcoming IGF Awards, prompting a broader discussion within the gaming community regarding the integration of AI tools in creative processes.
The developers emphasized that LLMs were exclusively employed to tackle complex technical issues and software glitches, estimating that less than 0.1% of the game's code was influenced by this AI assistance. They explicitly stated that generative AI was not used for any other aspect of the game's creation. This revelation comes amidst a statement from some IGF jurors who declared their intention to not support any game incorporating generative AI.
In a detailed explanation, House House provided an instance where an LLM chatbot offered a crucial suggestion for a bug that caused 'Big Walk' to run significantly slower during certain in-game times. Despite prior extensive research and consultation with a Unity engineer, the team found a viable solution only after modifying an LLM's initial suggestion, which ultimately amounted to approximately ten lines of code. This example underscores the specific and limited scope of AI application.
The studio openly acknowledged that the absence of a formal internal AI usage policy during 'Big Walk's' development was a shortcoming. Moving forward, House House is committed to developing and implementing a more comprehensive policy concerning AI tools. They also expressed their support for initiatives aimed at mitigating the potential negative impacts of generative AI within the video game industry and beyond, apologizing if their use of LLMs fell short of public expectations or standards.
The public's awareness of this issue intensified following a statement from a group of IGF jurors, including notable figures like Austin Walker and Sam Barlow, signaling their stance against games using generative AI. Additionally, House House previously issued a statement explaining their decision not to release 'Big Walk' on Xbox platforms due to their support for the Palestinian-led BDS boycott against Microsoft.
Despite the AI controversy, 'Big Walk,' which launched in August 2026, has garnered critical acclaim and achieved significant commercial success, selling one million copies within its first week. This situation highlights the complex ethical and practical considerations developers face as AI technologies become increasingly sophisticated and integrated into various creative fields.
The use of AI in 'Big Walk' by House House serves as a microcosm of the ongoing industry-wide debate. While the developers clarified their minimal, problem-solving application of LLMs, the incident has sparked conversations about transparency, ethical guidelines, and the future role of AI in creative endeavors. This development prompts a critical re-evaluation of how AI tools are perceived and regulated within the rapidly evolving landscape of game development.
