Posted in: Card Games, Games, Magic: The Gathering, Tabletop, Wizards of the Coast | Tagged: dave rapoza

Artist Dave Rapoza Quits Magic: The Gathering Over AI Art Controversy

After Wizards of the Coast was forced to admit they used AI to create artwork, artist Dave Rapoza blasted the company and says he's quit.

Over the weekend, artist Dave Rapoza announced he is done working with Wizards of the Coast due to the company's use of AI with Magic: The Gathering. If you haven't been following the story, multiple artists came out against the company, claiming that newer artwork for the game had been created using AI as opposed to hiring real artists to create art pertaining to cards and marketing imnages as they have done so in the past. At first, the company flat-out denied the claims back in December, simply posting a single paragraph to the game's website about how artists are told to refrain from using AI. WotC then shared an image on their own Twitter/X feed (which has now been deleted) as proof they do not use AI in marketing. However, after multiple artists pointed out the inconsistencies, the writing was on the wall, and the company had to come clean, which they eventually did in a series of posts promising to review their policies.

However, in what may be the first of many to come, Dave Rapoza says he's done with WotC and will not be working on Magic: The Gathering anymore. Rapoza has worked with dozens of prominent companies over the years, including Paizo, MTV, Riot Games, Marvel, Bethesda Softworks, Blizzard Entertainment, Dark Horse, and more, being one of the more prominent Magic: The Gathering artists around. Rapoza posted his own series of responses, which we have compiled for you here, declaring that he will no longer be contributing to future cards or sets.

And just like that, poof, I'm done working for wizards of the coast – you can't say you stand against this then blatantly use AI to promote your products, emails sent, good bye you all! If you're gonna stand for something you better make sure you're actually paying attention, don't be lazy, don't lie. Don't be hard on other artists if they don't quit – I can and can afford to because I work for many other game studios and whatnot – some people only have wotc and cannot afford to quit having families and others to take care of – don't follow my lead if you can't, no pressure. Also, to be clear, I'm quitting because they took a moral stand against AI art like a week ago and then did this, if they said they were going to use AI that's a different story, but they want to grand stand like heroes and also pull this, that's goofball shit I won't support. I like the comments asking why I didn't quit from Pinkertons, layoffs, etc – I'll leave you with these peoples favorite quote – " The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago."

Regardless of how WotC responds at this point, it is very clear the company has made a poor choice that affected the way they are viewed. Based on the way AI was used in this scenario, it was more than likely done by whoever worked on it to save costs and not use individual artists, designers, photographers, etc. to make a piece of marketing art. We'll see if any other artists do the same as Rapoza, but it's pretty clear if Wizards of the Coast wants to repair the damage, banning the use of AI for all materials, both internally and externally, not just for Magic: The Gathering but for Dungeons & Dragons as well, will end up being the way they have to go.

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