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Amid Concerns Over AI Copycats, Japan's 'Drunken Goddess Reflux' Cancels Free Demo

AIOctober 19, 20261 min read

Japanese game studio Alliance Arts has cancelled the free public demo of its new game, Drunken Goddess Reflux. The studio says it worries that AI could quickly copy the game's style and play.

What happened

Alliance Arts was going to release a free demo of Drunken Goddess Reflux during Steam Next Fest on October 19. The demo was about 20 minutes long. Instead, the studio changed it to a private test with only a few invited players. In a Steam notice, it said it had decided to cancel the public release.

Key facts

Demo length: about 20 minutes
Planned demo date: October 19, during Steam Next Fest
News report date: October 16 (local time), by the US game site Kotaku
Full game release: December 8 on Steam
Possible endings: 7

What the game is

Drunken Goddess Reflux is a survival game set in a hell-themed bar. Players face a demon of alcohol in a game like Russian roulette, choosing glasses with different drink strengths. Between rounds, they explore a 3D bar and talk with characters. Their choices lead to one of seven different endings.

Why it matters

The studio is worried that someone could copy the game's look and game style with AI and release a copy before the real game comes out. The team is small, so it said it could not manage limits on streaming or video sharing of the demo. This shows how small game makers are worried about AI copying their work.

What to watch

Whether the full game launches on Steam on December 8 as planned
Whether other small studios take similar steps to protect their demos
How platforms like Steam respond to concerns about AI copies

Glossary

Alliance Arts: The Japanese game studio that makes Drunken Goddess Reflux.
Steam: A online platform where people buy, download, and play PC games.
Steam Next Fest: A Steam event where players can try out new games, often through free demos.
Kotaku: A US website that reports news about video games.
demo: A short, free version of a game that lets players try it before buying.
AI: Artificial intelligence, computer systems that can create text, images, or video.

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