With a watchful eye on Warhounds, I have been intrigued by its development journey, particularly regarding a recent concern that has now been addressed by the team at Everplay. Drawing inspiration from classics such as XCOM and Jagged Alliance, this turn-based strategy game promises a rich tapestry of environmental tactics and squad specialization. However, the Steam Next Fest demo faced criticism due to the use of generative AI for character portraits, a point of contention that the developers have taken to heart.
Addressing Community Feedback
In their communication, Everplay acknowledged the feedback received during the announcement, playtests, and demo phases, particularly regarding the AI-generated character portraits. They clarified on their Steam page that these portraits were merely temporary placeholders, with plans to replace them with over 100 hand-crafted designs. Despite being labeled as placeholders, the AI-generated images were described as “shiny, unrealistic, and completely at odds with the look of the game itself,” prompting a significant number of negative reviews that specifically mentioned the portraits.
In response, Everplay has decisively moved away from AI-generated portraits. Their new approach involves creating portraits directly from each character’s in-game 3D model, utilizing high-resolution textures, improved skin shaders, and appropriate lighting. This change not only enhances the visual consistency of the game but also aligns the portraits more closely with the actual appearance of the characters.
The new portrait system also accommodates custom recruits. When players personalize a character’s appearance, the system captures their final model in a dedicated portrait scene, ensuring that the resulting image reflects the character’s customized look. “No AI. No mismatch. Just your squad – exactly as you built it,” the developers emphasize.
This thoughtful response from Everplay allows for a renewed focus on the exciting features that Warhounds has to offer. The game promises intense tactical action set within intricately designed environments that encourage strategic use of cover, line of sight, and flanking maneuvers. A robust squad system will require players to combine the right classes and equipment for each mission, catering to both short sessions and lengthy campaigns.
Particularly noteworthy is the game’s accuracy system, which calculates bullets individually, eliminating the frustrating random misses that have plagued other titles. Warhounds introduces meaningful consequences at both micro and macro levels, with mercenaries responding to player decisions, bearing tension and grudges, while larger dynamics shift based on actions taken during missions. And now, players can expect their squad to visually represent the characters they have meticulously crafted.
Warhounds is slated for release in 2026, with a wishlist option available on Steam, alongside a free demo for eager players to explore. This latest development marks a significant step forward, and it is my hope that the industry-wide pushback against generative AI assets will encourage more developers to appreciate the charm of traditional placeholder assets, reminiscent of the delightful hand-drawn sketches seen in titles like Slay the Spire 2. After all, it is perfectly acceptable for things to appear temporary and a bit rough around the edges.
