In a shocking turn of events, Panache Digital Games, the masterminds behind the recently released prologue of the much-anticipated historical adventure game, 1666: Amsterdam, have admitted to using AI assets in the playable demo. The confession came via a statement on Twitter, acknowledging concerns raised by gamers who spotted AI-generated art within the 30-minute experience. Launched last week during the Summer Games Fest livestream, 1666: Amsterdam, initially conceived by Panache founder Patrice Désilets following his departure from Ubisoft where he co-created Assassin's Creed, has now been under scrutiny due to its reliance on AI. The statement clarifies that the studio's team of artists used AI for early versions of assets, which will be replaced before the game's full version. However, it remains unclear whether these replacements were always part of the plan or are a response to the backlash. The prologue of 1666: Amsterdam is currently available for free via Epic Games Store and Steam, where it has garnered a 'Mixed' user review rating. Critics have voiced their disapproval, with one user stating, "They use gen AI in many places... I'm de-wishlisting it and ignoring the company." Another added, "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." Despite the controversy, many have praised the prologue for its atmospheric Assassin's Creed 2-like vibes, while others have criticized its technical performance. With an early access release planned later this year, followed by a full launch at a later date, only time will tell if Panache Digital Games can regain the trust of their gaming community. Tom Phillips, IGN's News Editor, has covered the story and can be reached at [email protected] or found on [email protected].