Indie Developer Accuses Rival of AI-Driven Game Copying

Independent game developer Rado Klasa has accused Golden Horn Studios of using AI tools to create a near-identical copy of his game, "1,000,000 Potatoes." The new game, titled "Potato Please," allegedly replicates Klasa's game's core mechanics of peeling potatoes and its distinctive Soviet-era military setting with horror elements.

Klasa stated that the concept for "1,000,000 Potatoes" originated from the GMTK Game Jam in July. He focused on refining the game's mechanics before its release. In September, he discovered the trailer for "Potato Please," which he found to be strikingly similar, leading him to believe his intellectual property has been infringed upon.

Golden Horn Studios has responded to Klasa's accusations, denying the claims. The studio asserts that they were unaware of "1,000,000 Potatoes" prior to Klasa's announcement and that "Potato Please" was inspired by a popular community meme and video related to potatoes. They maintain that similar concepts do not constitute plagiarism and are prepared to share their development files to prove their game's origin.

Despite the studio's explanation, some players have supported Klasa, flagging "Potato Please" as an AI copy on Steam. Players have raised concerns about the timing of "Potato Please's" social media accounts and the alleged lack of evidence for the claimed meme inspiration. The debate continues, with neither side having yet presented definitive proof, and the role of AI and the extent of any copyright infringement remain unconfirmed.