Judging by the GPT-4o situation, game developers will have a big problem if they get serious about AI chatbot NPCs

Judging by the GPT-4o situation, game developers will have a big problem if they get serious about AI chatbot NPCs | PC Gamer Skip to main content Open menu Close main menu PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES US Edition UK US Canada Australia Subscribe Sign in View Profile Sign out Search Search PC Gamer Games Hardware News Reviews Guides Video Forum More PC Gaming Show PC Gamer Clips Software Codes Coupons Movies & TV Magazine Newsletter Affiliate links Meet the team Community guidelines About PC Gamer PC Gamer Magazine SubscriptionWhy subscribe?Subscribe to the world’s #1 PC gaming magTry a single issue or save on a subscriptionIssues delivered straight to your door or device From$1Subscribe now Don’t miss these Platforms Open-source game engine Godot is drowning in ‘AI slop’ code contributions: ‘I don’t know how long we can keep it up’ AI Unity boss who once called out the ‘idiocy’ of the metaverse now says his company’s new AI tech ‘will enable developers to prompt full casual games into existence with natural language only’ AI A human software engineer rejected an AI agent’s code change request, only for the AI agent to retaliate by publishing an ‘angry’ blog about him AI This space MMO was coded by AI, is played by AI, and all us meatbags can do is watch them MMO EVE Online rolls out ‘AI-powered assistance feature’ for new players, promises it ‘does not produce game content, create art, or replace creative work’ AI In its brave quest to never learn a single thing from science fiction, Meta has patented a literally ghoulish AI that keeps you posting long after you’re dead and gone Sim Understandable AI paranoia has inspired a developer to change the handcrafted character art in its upcoming sim: ‘They look a bit AI’ Gaming Industry Over 50% of game developers now think generative AI is bad for the industry, a dramatic increase from just 2 years ago: ‘I’d rather quit the industry than use generative AI’ AI Moltbook is like Reddit but only AI agents are allowed—though after spending hours trawling through threads, it looks more like a huge, unhinged roleplay server to me AI Google’s new AI ‘world model’ has seemingly spooked videogame investors, but it’s hard to know what it will actually lead to RPG I’m the biggest Baldur’s Gate 3 fan, but the HBO TV show is filling me with dread Gaming Industry ‘We will f*ck up’: The publisher of Against the Storm and Manor Lords is committed to keeping generative AI out, but it’s easier said than done AI Steam updates AI disclosure form to specify that it’s focused on AI-generated content that is ‘consumed by players,’ not efficiency tools used behind the scenes AI ‘We’re actively embracing generative AI,’ Take-Two boss says, after previously expressing skepticism: ‘We have hundreds of pilots and implementations across our company’ RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian defends itself as fans react to generative AI use: ‘I’m not entirely sure we are the ideal target for the level of scorn’ PopularNEW: PC Gamer Clips!Arc RaidersBest PC gearFalloutGame Quizzes Software AI Judging by the GPT-4o situation, game developers will have a big problem if they get serious about AI chatbot NPCs Features By Tyler Wilde published 19 February 2026 Balance patches that tweak guns and spells can enrage players. What if what you’re re-balancing is their romantic partner? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. An AI-powered chef who appears in a demo of Nvidia’s ACE technology suite. (Image credit: Nvidia) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter PC Gamer Get the PC Gamer Newsletter Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday GamesRadar+ Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you’re going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Signup + Every Thursday GTA 6 O’clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O’clock experts. Signup + Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what’s on the horizon. Signup + Every Thursday The Setup Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more. Signup + Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo’s new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play. Signup + Every Saturday The Watchlist Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered. Signup + Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Tyler Wilde, US EIC (Image credit: Future)Tyler just wants RAM to be a normal price again, please.”They think that we are mentally ill,” says a ChatGPT user in one of many Reddit threads lamenting OpenAI’s decision to retire its GPT-4o chatbot. The replacement model, GPT-5.2, is “abusive,” says another. They want their old companion back, but OpenAI isn’t budging.This isn’t the first time chatbot users have been distraught over changes to their virtual companions. In 2023, users of Replika chatbots were outraged that their illusory romantic partners had been “lobotomized” after the bots were prevented from simulating erotic roleplay.Whether framed as a problem with AI chatbots or a problem with their users, these emotional attachments are a problem. Some users are treating AI chatbots like friends, therapists, and romantic partners, while their operators treat them as products. Turmoil and heartbreak have resulted, and videogames are poised to join in. Related articles People with AI partners are looking for a ‘new home’ as OpenAI announces date to switch off ‘overly supportive’ older models ‘I f**king hate gen AI art,’ Hooded Horse chief says: ‘If we’re publishing the game, no f**king AI assets’ It’s more important than ever to call out developers for egregious AI usage next year if we want videogames to remain interestin