Insomniac Games has publicly denied that Marvel's Wolverine contains any generative AI assets after a pair of bizarre in-game bathroom signs sparked widespread concern among players. The PlayStation 5 exclusive, which launched on September 15, became the subject of online speculation when a TikTok user shared footage of the strange signage, prompting fears that the developer had quietly incorporated the controversial technology into its latest release.
The controversy began when TikToker SmoothMango posted a minute-long clip focusing on two different bathroom signs that featured melted-together figures resembling the kind of distorted visuals often associated with AI-generated imagery. «Folks, that looks AI-generated,» SmoothMango said in the video. «I am trying to think of a way to describe this that is not AI generation because there's no way it's a bathroom for mutants. That looks supremely sus.» The clip quickly spread to X/Twitter, where user Rock Solid shared images from the video, amplifying fan concerns at a time when anxiety surrounding AI in game development is running high.
Insomniac's director of community and marketing, James Stevenson, responded directly to the X post to set the record straight. He explained that a UV map bug is responsible for the strange bathroom signs and confirmed that the studio is working on a fix that should address similar instances of glitchy visuals. «There are no AI-generated assets in Marvel's Wolverine,» Stevenson wrote, offering a direct denial to those who still had doubts. When the fix will be deployed remains unclear, but the clarification should ease concerns that the bathroom image signaled the use of generative AI in the new PS5 game.
The AI speculation is the latest in a series of speed bumps for Marvel's Wolverine since its September 15 launch. The first and most visible controversy involved Logan's Scent Trails, a tracking feature that fans online had not-so-lovingly dubbed «fart gas.» A small fix for that issue arrived just yesterday, with Insomniac promising to investigate a toggle option for the tracking feature as post-launch work continues.
While the scent trail issue has been addressed, other players are still finding reasons to criticize the game's linear story. Despite the online backlash, Marvel's Wolverine showed a seemingly strong start in terms of sales. IGN gave Insomniac's latest a 6/10 review, saying that its «slick and satisfying combat wears thin well before its conclusion, so much so that even its strong character work can't quite save it from being anything more than okay.»
The incident highlights the heightened sensitivity surrounding AI-generated content in video games, where fans and developers alike are increasingly vigilant about the technology's presence. For Insomniac, the swift response from its community and marketing director reflects an awareness that even minor visual glitches can now trigger significant speculation. As the studio continues to support the game post-launch, the bathroom sign bug serves as a reminder of how closely players scrutinize every detail of major releases.