Party Animals faces backlash after announcing AI video contest with $15,000 prize
Party Animals is facing backlash from players after announcing a new AI-focused video competition called the Golden Paw Awards, with a total prize pool of $75,000.
The physics-based multiplayer game revealed details of the contest through its official social media accounts on May 12.
According to the rules, participants must use generative AI as a “core creative tool” when producing submissions.
Accepted tools include “AI-generated images, video, music, voiceovers, 3D assets, etc.” The organisers also stated that submissions should feature “positive content entered around the Party Animals IP”.
Party Animals AI Video Contest is about to begin!
What wild ideas have you had for Party Animals? Join the "Golden Paw Awards" now — Party Animals 1st AI Video Contest!
A short film you've been dreaming of making, a story that breaks all the rules, a character tribute to your… pic.twitter.com/kWgY4zvQT0The competition includes several award categories, including Best Story, Best Creativity, Best Sound & Visuals and Players’ Choice. The Grand Prize winner will receive $15,000 alongside a Golden Paw Trophy.
Following the announcement, players began criticising the decision across social media and on Steam.
The game has since received a wave of negative user reviews, with some players objecting to the use of generative AI in community content initiatives.
One Steam review stated, “If you’re gonna push AI into my life, you will regret it.”
Another review read, “I don’t typically post negative reviews, but I will now that they are supporting AI slop.”
A separate review said, “Promoting AI slop got me feeling HOSTILE.”
Some players also uninstalled the game from their Steam libraries while accusing the developers of being disconnected from community concerns surrounding AI-generated content.
At the time of writing, the Party Animals development team has not publicly responded to the criticism surrounding the contest announcement.