Ubisoft Criticizes AI-Edited Leak of Assassin's Creed Multiplayer Game

Ubisoft has voiced its disdain towards the leak of a screenshot related to its upcoming multiplayer installment in the Assassin's Creed series, which was manipulated using artificial intelligence. The controversy began when a user known as j0nathan shared what was claimed to be an image from Assassin's Creed Invictus, a multiplayer spin-off that Ubisoft announced back in 2022, with little information released since then. The leaked screenshot depicted a character dressed in period attire, positioned in what appeared to be an arena. However, it was evident that the game environment was still a work in progress, indicating that development was ongoing. Accompanying the image, j0nathan commented, "Here’s a little gift: a first look at Assassin's Creed Invictus! A significant portion of the game isn't textured yet, so don’t be surprised by the large gray blocks — this is just to provide you with a sneak peek of its current state." The post quickly attracted a rebuttal from Ubisoft’s official Assassin's Creed social media account, which labeled the image as "misinformation." "Nice try... This may have originated from our private testing, but it has been significantly altered, likely using AI," the account stated. "Spreading misinformation is not ideal. For those genuinely interested in the project, we will reveal more when the time is right!" Curiously, j0nathan later confessed that the image was indeed AI-enhanced, and he subsequently shared what he claimed was the original, unaltered screenshot. Upon comparison, the two images showed notable differences in lighting, character colors, and arena textures. "Since the official account is acting smug, here’s the real screenshot without AI (and unfortunately for them, it looks exactly the same 😂)," j0nathan remarked. He added, "I didn’t want to give the game a bad reputation by showcasing its poor condition; I merely asked the AI to enhance the colors, and they are not pleased about it 😂. I’ll also release some images of Beyond Good and Evil 2 that I have — they’re going to complain given the state of that game, which is even worse than Invictus." This incident comes amid growing speculation regarding the development state of Invictus. Some fans believe an early version of the game was recently shown to a select group of players, who were reportedly not impressed. However, it is standard practice for developers to gather feedback during the development phase before a public reveal. There are no indications that Invictus is set for an imminent release, as it remains in the early stages of development. The reactions to the leak and the revelation that the original image was altered have been mixed. Many fans have criticized the sharing of a screenshot that clearly depicts a game still in development, altered through AI, as ineffective for representing what the final product will look like. There's a distinct sentiment that fans do not wish to see this trend continued by other leakers. "Why use AI at all?" commented one fan, RGisOnline. "It diminishes credibility. What’s the point of altering the clouds and ground when the core of the screenshot remains unchanged?" Another fan, lcvebyers, questioned, "Why do you think you were helping by modifying the character's robes? 💀 Why would you want the leak to appear different when the goal is to leak it?" Assassin's Creed Invictus is among several titles that Ubisoft is currently developing within its acclaimed franchise, which was announced years ago alongside the already-released Assassin's Creed Shadows, as well as the witchcraft-themed Assassin's Creed Hexe, expected next year. Additionally, the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is set to launch on July 9, with the latest details revealed just yesterday.