Wizards of the Coast has acknowledged that a promotional image shared earlier this month was created using relational AI, attributing the error to an undisclosed “vendor.” The company has since issued a public apology and reiterated its stance against the utilization of AI-generated content in its products.
The incident, which was initially reported in a now-deleted article on X from the official Magic: The Gathering channels, occurred on January 4. The article aimed to generate interest in the upcoming release of Ravnica Remastered, a new deck featuring a compilation of nearly 300 cards set in the popular Magic realm of Ravnica.
The promotional image showcased a selection of Magic cards set against the backdrop of what appeared to be a Victorian laboratory (referenced via Ghost Archive). Observant fans quickly noticed discrepancies in the background that hinted at the use of AI-generated elements, such as distorted numbers resembling pressure gauge readings.
While Wizards initially attributed the creation of the image to a human artist, the company later backtracked on this claim and issued an apology. A representative from Wizards took to Twitter, stating, “As our astute community members pointed out, it appears that certain AI elements, now commonplace in industry-standard tools like Photoshop, found their way into our marketing materials.”
Previously, Wizards had emphasized the importance of relying on human creators for their products, including Dungeons & Dragons, to avoid the reliance on generative AI for final outputs. In response to this incident, Wizards intends to establish guidelines for its marketing partners explicitly prohibiting the use of relational AI. The company explained that the oversight in the January 4 image occurred because the artwork was sourced from an external vendor rather than their usual pool of contributing artists.
This recent controversy involving AI marks another instance of challenges faced by Wizards of the Coast, following issues related to D&D in 2023. These previous incidents included the inadvertent inclusion of AI-enhanced artwork in August 2023’s Brilliance of the Giants and allegations from fans regarding AI involvement in artwork discovered in the 2024 Player Handbook.
In a follow-up statement, Wizards of the Coast clarified their earlier misinformation, acknowledging that the marketing image in question was indeed created using AI.
