Dungeons & Dragons Prohibits Artists From Using AI for Its Illustrations

Ever since AI-generated art took the world by storm less than a year ago, both aspiring and established artists have begun using the technology to produce the images of their dreams on a whim. Artists contributing to the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) are no different. D&D Beyond, which makes images, toolsets, and other optional assets for the game, shared over the weekend that it won’t allow its commissioned artists to produce D&D visuals.

According to a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, D&D Beyond didn’t realize one of its artists had been using AI to create images for the company’s forthcoming book. The artist, who has been left unnamed but has worked with D&D Beyond for nearly a decade, reportedly used an AI art generator to illustrate a horned giant wielding a massive ax. The creatures in D&D are fantastical by nature, so the giant’s weird, unrealistic design could have easily gone unnoticed. But a few fans thought the textures were off, and the ax’s size was disproportionate to the character. Seeking answers, they took to social media.  

This commissioned image was allegedly produced using AI. Credit: D&D Beyond

Sure enough, the image had been AI-generated. “Today we became aware that an artist used AI to create artwork for the upcoming book, Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants,” D&D Beyond wrote. “While we weren’t aware of the artist’s choice to use AI in the creation process for these commissioned pieces, we have discussed [it] with him, and he will not use AI for Wizards’ work moving forward.” The company added that it was updating its review process and artist guidelines to ensure that commissioned pieces aren’t the product of AI. 

The Hasbro-owned franchise isn’t the first to prohibit AI art, nor will it be the last. Art forums began banning AI-generated images last year (or, at the very least, mandating that artists disclose when they used AI to create certain visuals). In June, Valve started rejecting game submissions that involved AI-produced assets, citing intellectual property concerns. While some major image repositories are apparently comfortable confronting those obstacles head-on, others are playing it safe by refusing to publish anything AI has had its little generative hands on. Considering D&D Beyond is owned by Wizards of the Coast, which is owned by the major entertainment brand Hasbro, it’s easy to understand why this particular company is choosing the latter.