# Big Walk AI Bug Fix Sparks Indie Game Controversy > Indie game Big Walk's minimal AI bug fix triggers IGF jury backlash over generative AI use in development. - Title: Big Walk AI Bug Fix Sparks Indie Game Controversy | Shortify - Summary: Indie game Big Walk's minimal AI bug fix triggers IGF jury backlash over generative AI use in development. - Keywords: big walk, house house, igf awards, generative ai, unity engine, steam, ai bug fix, indie gaming, igf jury, ai disclosure, Ars Technica - Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/11/big-walk-used-ai-to-fix-a-bug-now-the-indie-gaming-world-is-having-a-reckoning - Published: 2026-11-11T17:37:32+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: big walk, house house, igf awards, generative ai, unity engine, steam, ai bug fix, indie gaming, igf jury, ai disclosure, technology, science ## AI Disclosure Controversy Indie game developer House House admitted using AI tools to fix a Unity engine bug in Big Walk. > LLMs were used sparingly near the end of Big Walk's development to help work through some difficult technical challenges and bugs ## IGF Jury Statement 19 IGF judges signed a statement declining to vote for any game using generative ai in any capacity. > declining to vote for any game that uses generative ai in any capacity ## AI Bug Fix Details House House used an ai chatbot to fix a unity engine bug causing infinite length shadows in game. > the game had infinite length shadows during some game situations ## Minimal AI Usage House House claims ai usage represents well under 0.1% of big walk's code for bug fixes. > well under 0.1% of big walk's code ## Valve Disclosure Policy Valve does not request disclosure of code or chatbot usage for steam games. > valve does not request disclosure of code or chatbot usage ## IGF Awards Policy IGF awards require disclosure of ai usage for game submissions. > adopt a strong anti-ai policy for future years that disallows games containing any ai-generated work ## Jury Emotional Response IGF judges Austin walker and Damon reece called big walk an achievement and emotionally significant. > an achievement that was remarkable and beautiful ## Jury Stance on AI IGF judges said minimal ai use overrides emotional connection to big walk for awards. > this is pain that has to happen to try and steer our culture away from this ## Past AI Disqualification Clair obscur expedition 33 was disqualified after ai textures were found in game. > the indie game awards rescinded awards for clair obscur: expedition 33 ## Fan Backlash Big walk's steam page received over 400 negative reviews after ai disclosure. > over 400 negative reviews ## Minimal AI Defense Some argue house house's ai use was a last-resort technical fix not a core ai implementation. > they spent years on that work of art... they asked a chatbot for two minutes how to fix a bug ## AI Researcher View AI researcher mike cook says house house's ai use is part of a larger problem in game development. > house house aren't laying off developers to replace them with claude ## Zero Tolerance Debate Some argue for zero tolerance on ai use while others say it's counterproductive. > an extreme zero tolerance of any generative ai is ultimately counterproductive now ## Industry Impact As ai tools become more common in game engines, iGF judges face growing challenges. > it may become increasingly difficult for anti-ai absolutists to avoid every game ## Key takeaway Big Walk's developer House House admitted using AI to fix a Unity engine bug, prompting IGF judges to reject the game for AI use despite minimal involvement.