It's literally not the definition of a witch hunt. They weren't hunting for AI use in E33 or other nominees. Sandfall was stripped of the award because it admitted to using AI after the fact, despite pledging that no AI tools had been used *at any point of the development process.
Sandfall opened themselves up to this when they accepted the nomination knowing the rules for this particular award prohibited AI use of any kind.
Note that there is also now a discussion about how much AI was used to design the enemies as well, given the rather bizarre appearances of many of them enemies in the latter portions of the game.
Sandfall opened themselves up to this when they accepted the nomination knowing the rules for this particular award prohibited AI use of any kind.
Note that there is also now a discussion about how much AI was used to design the enemies as well, given the rather bizarre appearances of many of them enemies in the latter portions of the game.