Party Animals Studio Recreate Games Loses Steam “Very Positive” Rating in Under 24 Hours Over $75,000 AI Video Contest

May 17, 2026 - 04:31

Recreate Games, the developer behind the hit physics-based brawler Party Animals, has seen its Steam rating drop from "Very Positive" to "Mixed" in less than 24 hours. The sudden shift follows the studio's announcement of a $75,000 video contest that requires participants to use generative AI tools.

The contest, which promised large cash prizes for the best AI-generated videos featuring Party Animals characters, was met with immediate and intense backlash from the game's player base. Many fans accused the studio of endorsing technology that threatens creative jobs and undermines the artistic effort behind the game itself.

Within hours of the announcement, the Steam user review page filled with negative comments. Players who had previously left positive reviews either changed their ratings or posted new warnings to prospective buyers. The game's overall rating, which had long held a "Very Positive" label based on thousands of reviews, flipped to "Mixed" as the negative reviews piled up.

Recreate Games has not yet issued a public response or retraction. The controversy highlights a growing divide in the gaming community, where support for generative AI is often seen as a betrayal of the human-driven development process. For now, Party Animals remains playable, but its reputation has taken a serious hit.