Article Summary
- Dave Rapoza, an artist, has decided to stop creating artwork for Magic: The Gathering due to concerns about the use of AI-generated art.
- Wizards of the Coast has acknowledged using AI technology after originally denying it and facing criticism.
- Rapoza is criticizing the company for not maintaining their declared position against AI.
- The future of the relationship between artists and WotC is in doubt due to ongoing controversy.
During the weekend, the artist Dave Rapoza He declared that he has ended his collaboration with Wizards of the Coast because of the company’s implementation of artificial intelligence. Magic: The Gathering is a popular collectible card game. Several artists accused the company of using AI to generate new artwork for the game instead of employing real artists to create card and marketing images, as they had done previously. Initially, the company refuted these allegations in December by issuing a brief statement. the website for the game Artists are advised against using AI, especially by WotC. published a picture They posted on their own Twitter or social media feed (which has since been removed) to demonstrate that they do not utilize AI for marketing. Nonetheless, following several artists highlighted the discrepancies The situation was clear and unavoidable for the company. come clean , which they ultimately accomplished in the end a succession of messages committing to reassess their procedures.
Nevertheless, in what could be the initial of several instances, Dave Rapoza has announced that he is parting ways with WotC and will not be involved in any future projects. The game known as Magic: The Gathering Throughout the years, Rapoza has collaborated with numerous well-known companies such as Paizo, MTV, Riot Games, Marvel, Bethesda Softworks, Blizzard Entertainment, Dark Horse, and many others, establishing themselves as a prominent figure in the industry. Magic: The Gathering is a popular collectible card game where players use decks of cards representing magical spells and powers to defeat their opponents. Artists in the vicinity. Rapoza uploaded. his set of reactions , which we have gathered for you here, stating that he will no longer be involved in creating upcoming cards or sets.
Suddenly, I have resigned from working for Wizards of the Coast. It’s contradictory to claim opposition to certain practices while simultaneously utilizing artificial intelligence for marketing purposes. Therefore, I bid farewell to all. It’s essential to genuinely uphold your principles and not be negligent or deceitful. Criticizing other artists who choose not to resign is unwarranted; personally, I can afford to due to my multiple engagements with various game studios. Some individuals rely solely on Wizards of the Coast and cannot resign due to familial responsibilities. Do not feel compelled to emulate my actions if it’s not feasible for you. My decision to depart stems from the company’s recent stance against AI-generated art, which contradicts their previous statements. I appreciate inquiries about why I stayed through previous controversies like the Pinkertons or layoffs. I’ll leave you with this popular saying: “The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is now.”
No matter the reaction from WotC moving forward, it is evident that the company has made a detrimental decision that has impacted its reputation. The utilization of AI in this situation was probably aimed at cutting expenses by avoiding hiring individual artists, designers, photographers, etc. to create marketing materials. It remains to be seen if other artists will follow Rapoza’s lead, but it is apparent that if Wizards of the Coast aims to rectify the situation, they should consider prohibiting the use of AI for all content, whether produced internally or externally. The card game called Magic: The Gathering. but for A popular tabletop role-playing game called Dungeons & Dragons. Also, they will ultimately need to follow this path.