Fallout TV Show Promo Art Sparks Controversy, Fans Debate AI Involvement
Amazon recently announced that its highly anticipated Fallout TV show will begin streaming in 2024, generating excitement among fans. However, a recent promotional art release has sparked controversy and ignited a debate about the involvement of artificial intelligence (AI) in its creation.
The art was unveiled by Amazon through a tweet featuring a 1950s-style postcard from Los Angeles, California, with the iconic character Pip Boy giving a thumbs-up. But upon closer inspection, fans noticed several peculiar anomalies that raised suspicions of AI-generated content.
Developer Kenney, known for creating free game assets, took to Twitter to criticize Amazon’s decision. In a tweet, they expressed their belief that Amazon, with its immense revenue of $514 billion, should have hired a professional artist instead of resorting to AI. Kenney highlighted various bizarre elements in the art, such as disjointed palm trees, misplaced body parts, and confusing traffic scenes.
The image’s flaws are evident—the palm tree in front of the yellow building appears disjointed, a woman has three legs, and one disappears mysteriously into a field of white flowers. The placement of the red taxi is entirely backwards, with the headlights and hood situated at the rear and the driving wheel at the front. The central boulevard also appears perplexing, as the sidewalk is as wide as the street itself, and cars on the other side appear to be traveling in the same direction. Additionally, as the background progresses, the cars become increasingly messy, resembling stacked and stretched patterns of alternating blue and red.
Kenney’s tweet received significant attention, with people continuing to discover new oddities within the image. The tweet raises concerns about Amazon’s decision to prioritize cost-saving measures over hiring skilled artists. Kenney expressed disappointment with the disrespect shown to the source material and suggested that many artists would have relished the opportunity to contribute to the project.
Neither Amazon nor Bethesda, the studio behind Fallout, has issued a response to the criticism.
The Fallout TV show, led by Jonathan Nolan, co-creator of Westworld, recently concluded filming and is set to deviate from the main storyline of the popular post-apocalyptic open-world RPG series. While little is known about the show, a closed-doors teaser garnered positive feedback, with IGN emphasizing its impressive production values and visual effects.
The timing of the controversy couldn’t be worse, as Hollywood writers and actors are currently on strike over streaming royalties and concerns about the use of AI in filmmaking. The Writers Guild of America recently accused Amazon and other streaming giants of anti-competitive practices and vertical integrations in a report, bringing the strike’s duration to over 100 days.
The Fallout TV show’s promotional art has ignited a debate about the involvement of AI, with fans and industry professionals expressing concerns about the use of cost-cutting methods rather than employing talented artists. As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen how Amazon will respond and address the fans’ dissatisfaction.
