In a recent turn of events, a viral tweet ignited a storm of speculation regarding the origin of the script for Silent Hill: Ascension, an interactive advanture series set in Konami’s renowned horror franchise. The controversy began when a tweet accused the series of being written by artificial intelligence, specifically pointing out a peculiar interaction involving a character dubbed “BerryMan.”

Silent Hill Ascension is absolutely written by A.I. and I cannot be convinced otherwise. This random NPC pops in, declares he’s berry hunting, says he’s seen weird shit and does not expound on it, provides no information, leaves for more berries. Goodbye forever, BerryMan https://t.co/IrwahA1tuc

— VoidBurger (AKA Jess) 🍔🎮 (@VoidBurger) November 25, 2023

Voidburger, a former video producer, shared a video clip on X, emphasizing a moment where characters encounter an eccentric man in the woods professing his love for berry-picking. The brief and seemingly disjointed dialogue left many questioning the human touch in the scriptwriting process. The viral post fueled debates on social media platforms, with users dissecting various aspects of the series.

CEO Jacob Navok Responds: Script Authored by Real People, Not AI

Jacob Navok, CEO of Genvid, the studio behind Silent Hill: Ascension, stepped forward to address the accusations. In a series of posts, he emphatically denied any involvement of artificial intelligence in crafting the script. He asserted that the script, comprising over 100,000 words, was entirely the result of the dedicated work of a talented team of human writers. Navok debunked the notion that large language models (LLMs) or AI contributed to any part of the narrative.

In his response, Navok acknowledged the studio’s previous experimentation with AI for cinematic elements but clarified that such endeavors were limited to testing purposes. He explained that earlier AI work led him to become skeptical of its application in creative endeavors, emphasizing that AI is still far from being ready for use in game development.

While Navok acknowledged the studio’s previous experimentation with AI, he emphasized that none of that work influenced Silent Hill: Ascension or any other ongoing projects. The team at Genvid, according to Navok, relies on a dedicated team of animators and writers who crafted the series’ narrative and visual elements. Navok defended the creative integrity of the team, describing any suggestion of AI involvement as a veiled insult to the hardworking individuals who contributed to the project.

User Criticism Persists: Silent Hill: Ascension Receives Low Ratings Despite AI Debate

Regardless of the ongoing debate about AI involvement, Silent Hill: Ascension has faced criticism from users. The app through which the series experienced currently holds a 1.7 out of 5 user rating on the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, the series itself sits at a meager 0.4 user rating score on Metacritic, indicating a less-than-enthusiastic reception from audiences.

Future of Silent Hill Franchise: Multiple Projects in Development Despite Ascension’s Reception

Despite the controversy surrounding Silent Hill: Ascension, multiple projects within the Silent Hill franchise are still in the works. Blooper Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake is reportedly progressing smoothly, and two other games, Silent Hill f and Silent Hill Townfall, are also in development. The fate of Silent Hill remains uncertain, with ongoing debates about the role of AI in narrative creation adding an unexpected layer to the franchise’s legacy.