The creators of the popular survival horror game Dead by Daylight, Behaviour Interactive, have recently stirred conversations among their dedicated player base. This comes after the studio posted job advertisements specifically looking for programmers and artists skilled in generative AI. The integration of AI tools in game development has been a contentious subject, often prompting debates about whether these technologies will supplant human creativity and effort. Many gamers advocate for meticulously hand-crafted art and animation, expressing strong reservations about generative AI’s role. Consequently, Behaviour Interactive’s postings, which highlight a desire to ‘push the boundaries of what’s possible with Generative AI and real-time graphics,’ have understandably raised a few eyebrows.
Specifically, two particular job listings from the Behaviour Interactive studio have garnered significant attention, though interestingly, neither explicitly names Dead by Daylight in their detailed descriptions. One opening is for a senior full-stack programmer, whose responsibilities include developing ‘backend and frontend features using generative AI.’ This suggests that while their direct work might not be on DBD, they would likely contribute to the development of technologies that could eventually be integrated into the popular multiplayer horror title.
The application of generative AI as a programming and development aid is generally less controversial, often used for debugging and refining existing code rather than creating from the ground up. However, the use of generative AI for generating art, assets, and other media is a different story, frequently meeting strong opposition from many players who champion traditional artistic methods. This is precisely the case with the second, more contentious, role.
The second prominent job advertisement is for a senior technical artist, dedicated to an ‘unannounced project’ within production, art, and animation. Behaviour’s description for this role highlights a desire for someone with ‘strong programming and analytical skills to bridge the gap between cutting-edge Generative AI technologies and artistic workflows.’ The studio seeks an individual passionate about the convergence of art and technology, specifically tasked with responsibly and ethically evaluating and integrating generative AI tools into the creative pipeline.
Candidates for this position are expected to possess ‘hands-on experience with generative AI tools for video, image, or content creation,’ citing examples like Stable Diffusion and ComfyUI. The role involves analyzing, testing, and documenting the efficacy of these AI-powered tools for various technical art workflows, including video, image, and general content generation. Furthermore, the artist will work closely with other artists to prototype, develop, and maintain innovative solutions using both generative AI and bespoke tools.
Unsurprisingly, these developments have triggered considerable discussion and some initial backlash on the Dead by Daylight Reddit community. One user notably commented, ‘BHVR is saying proudly that they are using generative AI.’ While some commenters acknowledged the potential benefits of AI for resolving technical issues in DBD – especially given Behaviour’s recent focus on core game improvements – others voiced significant apprehension regarding the artist role. They raised concerns about the potential negative implications for Dead by Daylight‘s artistic integrity and player experience.
The original publication of this story reached out to Behaviour Interactive for official comment and would update readers if a response was received.
For those interested in the ongoing developments, information on upcoming game updates and codes for in-game bonuses like Bloodpoints and cosmetics are readily available.
These recent job listings prompt an important question: what are your thoughts on the integration of generative AI in game development, and do you believe these changes warrant concern? We encourage readers to share their perspectives and join the ongoing conversation within the wider gaming community.