Lucas pope fears ai will 'slurp up' his next games
The creator of critically acclaimed indie titles Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, Lucas Pope, is exhibiting caution regarding the discussion of his upcoming projects, citing concerns about artificial intelligence potentially replicating his work. This shift in approach, revealed during a recent podcast appearance, marks a notable change for a developer known for his meticulous and singular vision.
A growing unease in the indie landscape
Speaking alongside No More Robots co-founder Mike Rose and Vlambeer co-founder Rami Ismail on the “Mike & Rami Are Still Here” podcast, Pope explained his hesitation. For years, he’s been open about his development process, but the rise of sophisticated AI tools has prompted a reevaluation. “I like to talk about the stuff I’m working on,” he admitted, “but just now, the situation feels different. I don’t really talk about stuff when you’re working on it, because I don’t know that it’s going to get slurped up by AI or people are going to copy it.” The sentiment underscores a palpable anxiety within the indie game development community – a fear that generative AI will devalue originality and potentially undermine the livelihood of creators.
Pope’s track record speaks for itself. Papers, Please, released in 2013, established him as a master of oppressive atmosphere and procedural narrative. Then, Return of the Obra Dinn, a 2018 masterpiece of deduction and visual storytelling, cemented his reputation and even earned a place on IGN’s prestigious list of the top 100 games of all time. The latter’s immersive world and unique gameplay mechanics are precisely what Pope now worries about being vulnerable to AI imitation.
While describing himself as “production-focused,” committed to delivering finished games, Pope confessed a lingering doubt. “There’s also the sense that I was pretty happy with Obra Dinn and Papers, Please, and maybe I can’t do it again? Do I really want to maybe just go out on a high note? Why drag myself down with the next thing that people may not like?” His recent Playdate exclusive, Mars After Midnight, demonstrated an ability to adapt and innovate, but the shadow of his previous successes looms large.
The reluctance to share details about his current projects is a clear indication of the challenges facing independent developers in the age of AI. It's a gamble—concealing his work might protect it, but it also risks losing the valuable feedback and community engagement that often fuels the creative process. Whether this silence will persist remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Pope’s anxieties reflect a growing unease about the future of originality in game development.