Assassin's Creed Creator's New Game Stumbles Out of the Gate Over AI Art Controversy
1666: Amsterdam, the long-awaited debut from Assassin's Creed co-creator Patrice Désilets, launched its free 30-minute prologue at Summer Game Fest last week. Within days, players discovered what appeared to be AI-generated portraits, in-game art, and marketing assets throughout the experience. Developer Panache Digital Games has since admitted to using AI assets and apologized — but questions remain about whether the studio always planned to replace them.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 5, 2026 | 1666: Amsterdam world premiere at Summer Game Fest |
| June 5, 2026 | Free 30-minute prologue goes live on Steam and Epic Games Store |
| June 6–10, 2026 | Players identify AI-generated portraits and marketing key art |
| June 11, 2026 | Panache Digital Games posts formal apology statement on X/Twitter |
| June 11–present | Steam prologue rating: "Mixed" |
| June 13, 2026 | Controversy ongoing; replacement update pending |
The Official Statement
Panache published the following statement on X/Twitter on June 11:
""A number of people have raised questions or concerns to us about whether assets in our marketing and game use generative AI. We have a dedicated team of over a dozen talented and experienced artists. With them, we looked into the assets in question and found that there were indeed some early versions of assets that made their way into the prologue. This includes some in-game portraits and external marketing assets."
— Panache Digital Games
""We are actively reviewing the assets in question. Human made versions will be released in an update dropping soon. We own up to this oversight and apologize for any upset caused. Please be assured that the Early Access and full game will not include any assets generated by AI."
— Panache Digital Games
The studio describes these as "early versions of assets" that were inadvertently included. Critics have questioned whether these were always slated for replacement or are being swapped only due to backlash.
About 1666: Amsterdam
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action-Adventure |
| Developer | Panache Digital Games |
| Founder | Patrice Désilets (Assassin's Creed co-creator) |
| Previous Game | Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey |
| Setting | Amsterdam, 1666 |
| Current Status | Free prologue out; Early Access later in 2026 |
| Steam Review | Mixed |
The game has been in development for 16 years in concept form. Désilets devised the project before — and during — his acrimonious exit from Ubisoft, where he served as creative director on Assassin's Creed and its sequel. The prologue is a 30-minute story experience described as "an amuse-bouche" before the full Early Access launch later in 2026.
Try the free prologue:
Community Reaction
Against the Studio
""They use gen AI in many places. Pictures inside the game, assets and even the promo key art is generated. I'm de-wishlisting it and ignoring the company." — Steam user review
""About AI, it's not hard to hire an artist to do concept art, or in-game assets. The game has cut corners and in its current state I cannot recommend it." — Steam user review
The frustration goes beyond the AI itself. The studio emphasized having a "dedicated team of over a dozen talented and experienced artists" in the same statement admitting to AI asset use — a contradiction that many players found hard to accept.
More Forgiving
Some players focused on the prologue's atmosphere and Assassin's Creed 2-like vibes, rating the core experience favorably while separating the AI controversy.
""The vibe and atmosphere were genuinely great. If they fix the AI stuff and deliver on Early Access, I'll be back." — Reddit r/1666Amsterdam
Why This Controversy Landed Hard
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Timing | AI art controversy peaked alongside broader industry layoffs |
| Context | Ubisoft announced 380 layoffs and studio closures the same week |
| Contradiction | Studio claimed to have a full artist team while using AI art |
| Transparency | Only admitted after players found it — not disclosed upfront |
| Trust | Free prologue is players' only basis for evaluating the studio |
The controversy is amplified by the timing: the same week, Ubisoft announced 380 job cuts and closed studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade. In an industry atmosphere of heightened anxiety about AI replacing creative workers, a studio using generative AI art without disclosure — while asserting it had talented human artists — hit a nerve.
What Panache Needs to Do Next
Based on the community response, three things will determine how the studio recovers:
- 1Ship the replacement update quickly — The statement promised human-made replacements "soon." Every day without the update extends the negative sentiment.
- 2Transparent communication — Some players will monitor whether the replacements actually ship and whether future development continues without AI art.
- 3Early Access quality — If the full game delivers on the atmospheric promise the prologue showed in its gameplay, the controversy may fade.
GamePeak Verdict
The apology was prompt and the commitment is on record. Whether it was planned from the start or triggered by backlash is ultimately unknowable from the outside. The prologue itself has real atmosphere — players who praised it weren't wrong. The AI asset situation is a real mark against Panache's transparency, but it's not a death sentence for the game.
The free prologue is worth checking out if you're curious about the game. Reserve final judgment for when the Early Access version launches and the replacement assets are verified to be in place.