Jagex Pulls RuneScape Trailer After Six-Fingered Knight Sparks AI Controversy

Jagex found itself at the center of a generative AI controversy after a promotional trailer for RuneScape's Dragon Slayer 2 quest, debuted at RuneFest, featured a knight with six fingers on one hand. Fans were quick to flag the anatomical anomaly as a telltale sign of AI-generated artwork, a claim that proved difficult for the studio to dismiss. Jagex moved swiftly to take the trailer down, citing a need to "investigate urgently," and confirmed the footage was produced by a "trusted external partner" rather than by internal staff.

In its official response, Jagex issued an apology and doubled down on its existing stance against generative AI, stating that it "has no place" in its creative work. The studio reiterated that it does not use generative AI to create games, artwork, or creative assets, and pledged it would "not knowingly allow it to be used" on its behalf going forward. Jagex also promised to overhaul its internal review process to prevent similar incidents from slipping through in the future. The episode is a pointed reminder of how closely gaming communities scrutinize promotional material, and how quickly AI-related missteps can spiral into full-blown public relations crises for developers.

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