Gaming News
IGF jurors say they will not vote AI games; dev reports <0.1% AI code
Developing
Key art: Big Walk, via Steam All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 3 events from Nov 9, 2026 to Nov 10, 2026, drawn from 3 sources.
“to research, via chatbots, issues we encountered with third-party code,”
via theverge.com
Our take
The controversy highlights a growing friction between indie development practices and community expectations regarding generative AI. With House House admitting to using LLMs for less than 0.1% of its code, the IGF's blanket ban on AI usage creates a precedent that could impact how small studios handle technical debt and bug fixes in future projects. The fact that the studio disclosed this to judges but not to players on Steam underscores the lack of industry-wide standards for transparency.
Background
Big Walk is a cozy co-op exploration game developed by House House, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game. The game encourages groups of users to traverse a large island and solve puzzles using basic coordination and communication skills. It was a strong contender for the Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards, which celebrate achievements in the indie gaming sphere.
The IGF is scheduled to hold its next iteration in March 2027. Prior to the recent controversy, the festival had not established a universal consensus on how to handle games developed with generative AI tools. The upcoming awards show highlights some of the biggest achievements in the indie gaming sphere, making eligibility criteria a point of significant discussion among judges and developers.
The timeline
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IGF Jurors Announce Ban on AI-Generated Games
A coalition of Independent Games Festival judges and jurists, represented by game journalist and developer Austin Walker, reportedly announced their stance on games made with AI. After lengthy discussion, the judges reportedly decided to refrain from voting for any game that utilized AI in any capacity whatsoever. The statement, posted to Walker's Bluesky account, noted a reported significant increase in games developed with generative AI tools and stated that AI-generated code is allegedly not [1]
Screenshot of dualshockers.com, captured Nov 11, 2026. Source [1] -
House House Confirms Minimal AI Code Usage
Following intense speculation, House House developer Bruno Dias reportedly confirmed on his Bluesky account that Big Walk contains a small portion of AI-written code that was allegedly not originally disclosed to players, though it was reportedly disclosed to the IGF judges. Around the same time, House House updated the official FAQ on its website, stating that LLMs were reportedly used sparingly in the final stretch of development to help work through difficult technical challenges and bugs. Th[1]
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House House Apologizes and Cites Lack of Policy
In its disclosure, House House stated that its use of AI tools was reportedly not an endorsement of the technology. The studio apologized that Big Walk's LLM usage may reportedly not meet the standards of those trying to limit the harm generative AI is allegedly doing to videogames. House House reportedly admitted it did not have an AI policy in place when it developed the game, describing this absence as a failure, and said it will work to have a more comprehensive policy going forwards.[1]
Our read of the evidence
Mostly unverified. None of the three reported events have been confirmed by primary sources; all rely solely on coverage from dualshockers.com. Both the jurors' announced voting ban and the developer's statements about AI usage and policy gaps come from this single outlet's reporting. The practical impact remains pending until the next Independent Games Festival takes place in 2027.
Our rating counts evidence, not opinions about anyone: events confirmed by a primary source (the person's own post, their official site, a court or government record) weigh most, then how many independent outlets report the story.
What happens next
March 2027: The next iteration of the Independent Games Festival is scheduled to take place, where the implications of the AI voting ban will be fully realized.
Frequently asked
Is Big Walk eligible for the 2027 IGF awards?
According to dualshockers.com, there is a distinct chance that any awards Big Walk was previously under consideration for are now forfeit due to the jurors' decision not to vote for games using AI.
How much of Big Walk's code was generated by AI?
House House estimates that well under 0.1% of Big Walk's code had anything to do with AI usage. The studio stated that generative AI was not used in any other context when making the game.
Why did House House use AI in Big Walk's development?
The studio used LLMs sparingly in the final stretch of development to help work through difficult technical challenges and bugs. Specifically, they used chatbots to research issues encountered with third-party code, including fixing an issue with shadows.
Did House House disclose AI usage to the IGF?
Yes, House House stated that it disclosed its AI usage as part of its IGF submission. However, it did not disclose this on the game's Steam page because the platform does not request disclosure of code or chatbot usage.
Who signed the IGF statement against AI games?
The statement was signed by several jurors, including Telling Lies and Immortality creator Sam Barlow and Celeste composer Lena Raine. The statement was represented by game journalist and developer Austin Walker.
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Sources (3)
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 3 dated events from 3 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “IGF jurors say they will not vote AI games; dev reports <0.1% AI code.”
GenZHype, 10 November 2026,
https://genzhype.com/gaming/big-walk-developers-admit-ai-code-use-triggering-igf-backlash/.