Postal Spinoff Portal: Bullet Paradise Canceled Following AI Art Allegations
Portal: Bullet Paradise, a Postal franchise spinoff developed by Goonswarm Games, was canceled by Running With Scissors just one day after its reveal amid backlash over allegations of AI-generated artwork.
Goonswarm Games announced the shutdown of its studio, stating that the project was canceled after false accusations regarding the use of AI-generated art. The studio cited numerous threats and insults as part of the fallout.
Running With Scissors acknowledged that the game's trailer likely contained AI-generated elements, saying the trust between the development team and publisher had broken down. They issued an apology to those who were insulted during the controversy but explicitly did not apologize to those who sent death threats.
The Postal series, known for its dark humor and graphic violence, began in 1997 and has faced bans in several countries, including Australia, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sweden, and France. The franchise also spawned a 2007 live-action film directed by Uwe Boll.
The publisher indicated a strategic shift toward projects planned for 2026 and noted it would report any threats against its staff. They also implied that Postal: Bullet Paradise might not return in its current form.
This controversy comes amid broader industry debates on the use of generative AI, as major publishers have increasingly employed AI for asset creation, raising questions about art quality, copyright, and effects on human artists.
Additionally, the video game industry continues to face staffing challenges, with over 3,500 job cuts in 2025 following nearly 15,000 cuts in 2024.
