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Paolo Pedercini, creator of Molleindustria’s Future? No Thanks!, says artificial intelligence is “a technofascist, anti-human and anti-art project,” yet disclosed that the game used a small amount of AI-assisted code, two synthetic voices and two early AI-generated music loops. The controversy turned less on the scale of that use than on when players learned about it and what they considered a breach of the game’s anti-AI politics.
After the backlash, Pedercini replaced the two player-facing text-to-speech performances with human actors portraying robots and offered direct refunds to buyers who still felt betrayed. The game is therefore not literally AI-free: its code includes limited late-stage assistance, but the disclosed synthetic voices and music loops were removed from the released version.
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The phrase comes from Pedercini’s own AI-disclosure statement, not from an outside critic. He argues that AI conflicts with the human and artistic values behind his work and wrote that creating spaces of resistance is imperative. He also acknowledged that the game was developed before a broad industry consensus formed around a 100% no-AI requirement.
That timing is central to the dispute. Pedercini had supplied versions of his disclosure when festivals and events requested them, but the fuller public explanation appeared after release and player backlash. For many players, the trust issue was therefore about disclosure timing as much as the amount of technology involved.
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Did Future? No Thanks! use AI?
Yes, but in several narrowly defined ways. Pedercini says the game’s art assets, writing and sounds were not AI-generated. He estimates that about 99% of the code was written before AI was viable as a coding tool, with a tiny late-stage portion assisted by ChatGPT or Claude for minor debugging.
| Area | What Pedercini disclosed | Status after the update |
|---|---|---|
| Code | Limited ChatGPT or Claude assistance for issues including a broken shader and a one-frame loading glitch | Remains part of the codebase; the creator says generated and human-written lines cannot always be separated reliably |
| Voices | Two brief text-to-speech performances: an automated toilet and an automated translator/personal assistant in a hair salon | Replaced by human performances portraying robots |
| Music | Two short Suno-generated loops with lyrics about AI appeared in early demos | Replaced with royalty-free loops |
| Art, writing and other sounds | No AI-generated art assets, words or sounds, according to the creator | No change stated |
Pedercini described the game as only “0.001% worse” because of the AI use, but that is a rhetorical self-assessment, not a measured quality result. He also distinguishes assisted programming from generated player-facing assets, while warning that removing AI-assisted code is difficult when its provenance cannot be identified line by line.
What changed after the backlash?
An October 23 update removed the synthetic toilet and hair-salon voices. Human performers had already recorded replacement versions, but Pedercini originally kept the uncanny text-to-speech because he thought it was funnier. The patch now has actors perform characters who are pretending to be robots.
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The same update increases payouts from various in-game gigs. That change can prevent situations in which players become unable to earn enough money to complete every quest, a separate progression problem addressed in the patch.
Pedercini summarized the voice change this way: “At the very least I owe you all a game without AI-generated voices. That’s what the update is about.”
Is the game AI-free now?
No. The released game no longer uses the two disclosed synthetic voices, and the early Suno loops were replaced, but the creator still acknowledges limited AI-assisted debugging in the code. “AI-free” would therefore be inaccurate if it includes any development assistance; “free of the disclosed AI-generated voices and demo music” is a more precise description.
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Can buyers get a refund?
Pedercini offered a direct remedy to players who still felt deceived: email him PayPal or Venmo details and he would send the purchase money back. The offer is handled by the developer rather than through an automated store process.
No deadline, eligibility window, automatic Steam-refund route or alternative payment method was specified in the statement. Buyers considering the offer should keep their purchase information and contact the creator through the channel named in his post.
What does Steam disclose?
The current Steam listing says Steam does not require disclosure for AI-assisted code, but that the developer is posting one anyway. It describes minimal code assistance during the final months of development and states that no art assets, words or sounds were AI-generated.
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This wording explains why the controversy persists despite the small amount of use: the platform disclosure is present now, while some players wanted the information before buying. The listing does not turn the game into a wholly non-AI production, nor does it erase the distinction between private coding assistance and assets visible or audible to players.
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What is Future? No Thanks! about?
The game is a narrative-driven, open-world adventure set in a 2045 ecosocialist utopia. Players control Harvey Huffstone, an older man spending the last day of his life completing a bucket list that includes a self-scheduled euthanasia. The official game description lists seven nonlinear quests and approximately six hours of play.
Molleindustria is both developer and publisher. Steam lists a 4 September 2026 release date, and the game is sold digitally for Windows and macOS through Steam and itch.io.
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What should players understand before buying?
- The creator’s anti-AI statement is genuine, but it accompanies an admission of limited coding assistance and earlier synthetic content.
- The two text-to-speech voices were removed from the current version and replaced with human performances.
- The two Suno music loops belonged to early demos and were replaced with royalty-free music.
- The game’s art and writing were declared non-AI-generated.
- A direct PayPal or Venmo refund was offered to buyers who remain dissatisfied, with no published deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a physical edition of Future? No Thanks!?
No source-supported physical release, soundtrack, artbook or other boxed product is documented. The available listings identified for the game are digital storefronts.
Where can I buy Future? No Thanks!?
The game is listed digitally on Steam and itch.io for Windows and macOS. Store availability, regional pricing and platform features can change, so check the current listing before purchasing.
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Who is Harvey Huffstone?
Harvey Huffstone is the game’s older protagonist, spending his final day pursuing personal goals in the utopian setting. His bucket-list journey includes arranging his own euthanasia, a premise that frames the story’s political and ethical satire.
Did Steam force the developer to disclose the AI use?
The listing says Steam does not require disclosure for AI-assisted code. Pedercini chose to publish the disclosure anyway, after having previously supplied versions when festivals and events requested them.
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