At the beginning of the week, there was a leak of purported new *Fallout*-themed products that are expected to hit Target stores across the United States soon. However, enthusiasts have raised concerns that one of the leaked items may feature computer-generated graphics rather than authentic designs.
A video shared on September 2 by a user on the *Fallout* subreddit showed what appeared to be unreleased *Fallout* merchandise being uncovered in a warehouse-like environment. The user stated that these items would be stocked at Target from November or December onwards. Although the original video has been removed, potentially due to fears of repercussions from Target, *Kotaku* managed to watch it before its deletion and confirmed the legitimacy of the products. Notably, one item—a *Fallout*-themed hot sauce—seems to exhibit artificial intelligence-generated visuals on its packaging.
Upon inspection by *PCGamesn*, viewers commenting on the leaked Target video honed in on anomalies in the hot sauce imagery. In one scene, a couple is depicted dining on a Deathclaw’s hand, with the man awkwardly using his cutlery on a napkin instead. The utensils appear oddly shaped, and observers pointed out that the positioning of the Deathclaw hand above the plate seems unnatural. Additionally, there are discrepancies in the man’s right hand. These factors suggest that this latest *Fallout* merchandise could feature AI-generated graphics.
Despite reaching out to Bethesda for comment on the leaked artwork, *Kotaku* did not receive a response prior to publication. It is worth noting that Bethesda likely commissioned this artwork from an external firm rather than creating it internally.
The utilization of AI-generated content has become increasingly common in marketing and advertising strategies over recent years as companies strive to demonstrate progress to stakeholders amidst advancing AI technologies. This incident is not the first time that official *Fallout*-related artwork has been scrutinized for exhibiting peculiar, AI-like traits. Will minor imperfections like a poorly rendered fork dissuade collectors and fans from purchasing this particular *Fallout* merchandise? Probably not, which is precisely what companies are banking on.