According to Eurogamer.net, developer Goichi “Suda51” Suda has directly assured fans that Grasshopper Manufacture’s next game, the ultra-violent Romeo is a Dead Man, contains no AI-generated material whatsoever. The game is currently scheduled for release on February 11, 2025, for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Suda, the executive director and scenario writer, also teased that the studio is looking into a possible Nintendo Switch 2 version. This statement comes shortly after the reveal of Let it Die: Inferno, a sequel to a Grasshopper franchise developed by Supertrick Games, which faced criticism for its apparent heavy use of AI. The AI controversy in gaming was further highlighted last week when publisher Running with Scissors cancelled Postal: Bullet Paradise after feedback suggested it was made with generative AI.
Why This AI Promise Matters Now
Here’s the thing: Suda51 didn’t just randomly decide to talk about AI. He’s directly responding to a fire that’s already burning. The Let it Die sequel, even though it’s not his project, is associated with his studio’s legacy. So when fans saw what looked like AI-generated visuals in that trailer, they probably got nervous about what Grasshopper itself was cooking up. Suda’s tweet is a pre-emptive strike to calm those fears. It’s basically saying, “Our crazy, artistic violence is still *our* crazy, artistic violence.” In an era where AI use is becoming a major point of contention—enough to get games cancelled—this kind of clear, human-authored guarantee is becoming a selling point.
The Stakeholder Impact: Art vs. Tool
For players, this is part of a bigger, messier conversation about what we value in games. Is it just the end product, or is the human artistry behind it part of the package? Suda51 is betting that for his audience, the latter still matters a lot. His brand is built on a specific, idiosyncratic vision. For developers and studios, the pressure is mounting to be transparent. Bethesda’s Todd Howard calling AI a “tool” while emphasizing “human intention” represents the corporate middle ground. But smaller, personality-driven studios like Grasshopper might find more value in taking a hardline “no AI” stance. It becomes part of their identity. And for the market? We’re seeing a real split. Some projects are getting axed for suspected AI use, while others are quietly embracing it. We’re in the awkward, experimental phase, and not everyone is going to survive it.
Looking Ahead to Romeo’s Future
So what does this mean for Romeo is a Dead Man? By staking this claim, Suda51 has raised the expectations for the game’s handmade, artistic craft. The promise of an ultra-violent shooter where you battle criminals across spacetime with guns and swords sounds exactly like his brand. Now, he’s added the promise that every weird detail came from a human brain. The mention of exploring a Switch 2 version is also interesting—it shows they’re thinking about the hardware landscape beyond the current gen. If you’re curious about the vibe, you can check out the official PlayStation Store page for a closer look. Ultimately, in a crowded market, “no AI” might just become a new badge of honor for certain creators. Whether that actually translates to sales is the billion-dollar question.
