AI-generated video clip goes viral as millions mistake it for real video game project
Photo: X
An AI-generated video clip has gone viral across social media, leading millions to believe it was a teaser for an upcoming video game.
The five-second clip, shared by de5imulate on X on July 21, shows a first-person view of a character holding a sword and torch while approaching a gothic castle along a forest path.
omw pic.twitter.com/eCiTOrjtzC
The post quickly gained attention, reaching 30 million impressions at the time of writing, with many users assuming it was footage from a new game in development.
However, as the creator clarified in the replies, the clip was generated using the AI tool Midjourney and was labelled as “concept art.” The original post however, did not disclose its AI origins, leading to confusion among viewers.
Discussion around the clip has sparked debate within the game development community. Tim Soret, known for The Last Night, described it as an “AI-invented visual style,” adding that “everybody wants it” and that it would take “years of work” to produce a real game with a similar appearance.
Other developers have responded by sharing their ongoing projects, including Relics of the Oracle and Eclipsium, which have gained attention for their comparable visual styles while being actual game projects in progress.
The viral spread of the AI-generated clip highlights ongoing debate between developers and players on the balance between new technology and traditional game development processes.