AI encroachment on the creative industry has been a major concern for some time. The arts have never been a truly appreciated professional industry, and now it stands to be replaced by AI, churning out cheap, lesser quality copies. Doesnât that infuriate you? We are starting to see GenAI as the new industry standard tool, but is it really a tool or just a way to cut costs by getting rid of highly talented creatives.Â
We are starting to see the first lawsuits from artists challenging the use of their writing, art or other media to train these AI tools without permission or acknowledging copyright infringement. The results of this will set a precedent on how GenAI is viewed legally and how future legislation, when governing the use of this new âtoolâ, is dictated. It is expected that the tech giants such as Google, Microsoft and Meta will strongly oppose any changes or limitations set on innovating future AI or in billionaire speak, âyou canât stop us, we want to make more money, we need more money.â
So what do people think of AI? Personally, I hate it. I find GenAI a lazy, unoriginal, poor-quality copycat. Our society is full of fast consumption; now, all the time, we donât slow down, we donât take our time to think, we have lost all patience in crafting our own thoughts, ideas, or work. Honestly, have we not learnt from Terminator, I Robot, The Matrix? Even Wall-E had a crazy, murderous, AI autopilot. Â
One in five games released in 2025 disclosed GenAI usage, but what are they using it for? And why, when the gaming industry has always been an epitome of creativity? According to Totally Human Media, some gaming companies are using GenAI for âVisual asset generationâ such as background, characters, 2D & 3D models, âAudio Generationâ background music, voice-overs for NPC & narration. Oh, so just some minor things that totally didnât already have talented artists, writers and actors doing to start with. Animators, especially, have been hit in 2025 across all media industries, being laid off in favour of the quick AI model, and that trend is expected to continue. Now this all sounds very abysmal, but there are some games that take a stance against AI without even meaning to, as it is and has always been a core value of the gameplay, imagination.Â
Minecraft has been a staple game of many peopleâs childhoods, and like myself, for a few has grown with them into adulthood. Minecraft reimagined survival gameplay; the well-known trailer for the game was actually fan-generated. With the opening line of âLet’s go to a place where everything is made of blocks. Where the only limit is your imagination⊠This adventure is only up to you.â The most iconic sandbox game developed in the 21st century, developing a global community, encouraging humanitarian projects, events like MC Championship, animation media, song parodies, the game is what the players made it. Mojang Studios, the owner of Minecraft, listens to its community (eventually) with new game developments, events and more. Â
It is not without its controversies, though. The biggest issue that the community faced was the Mob vote. Once a year, Minecraft Live delves into new releases and upcoming content to involve the community in the game development. Mojang came up with the Mob vote. The mobâs concept would be presented to the community, and they would vote on which to add; it divided us. The losers of the vote would consequently never be added to the game, and for a lot of players it was disappointing (long live the Moobloom). There was a large social media campaign to end the Mob vote after some of the voted mobs had anticlimactic results when developed in-game. Now, one of the outvoted mobs came back, a copper golem after four years, so there is hope for the community to see some of those old concepts be developed.
For me, my introduction to the Minecraft community started on YouTube about 12 years ago with a ginger cat, if you know you know. Minecraft has exploded since then, with live events such as Twitch Conâs MC Championships holding its very first Craft awards, commemorating the influencers and leaders of the community. Some stand-out awards for me were the Worldbuilder for Ishâs ability to create emotional stories and cinema with thousands of Minecraft players in his empireâs series. The Heart Crafter for Hermit Craft was 100% deserved for, now eleven seasons, of letâs play building challenging game mechanics, creatively architecting extraordinary builds. Hermit Craft also worked on a charity event for Gamers Outreach, raising $1.7 million for kids to enjoy video games whilst hospitalised to bring joy back into their lives during the difficult times. Other humanitarian projects such as coral reef restoration, the Uncensored Library, preserving the freedom of press by the Reporters Without Boarders, Build the Earth, a complete 1:1 scale replica of every building on earth to showcase cultural diversity. On my first day walking up to the University of Leeds, outside the LGI, I noticed a marketing board showing childrenâs drawings of hospitals, amongst which were Minecraft builds. I did a double-take.Â
This is a community that does not take the easy road. Minecraft is what you can make it, and players challenge and sometimes break game mechanics in that effort. It is amazing to see the beloved game get the recognition it deserves. The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards took place in London on November 20th. This is to commemorate the gaming industry’s efforts of the year with awards and trailers for upcoming content. I am glad to say that Minecraft took home an award, this year’s Still Playing Award for PC & console, its fourth victory in this category. This award was for games consistently played and enjoyed. Minecraft was up against games such as Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, Call of Duty: Warzone, and GTA Online. It has taken other awards home from the Golden Joystick event in previous years, such as Downloaded Game of the Year (2011 & 2012) and Best Community (2020). The Chief Creative Officer, Jan Bergensten, said it best in his acceptance speech, paying homage to his team and the community for driving the game’s development. In the âAge of AI, â it is amazing to see this game, built on pure creativity and imagination, get the recognition it deserves.Â
If AI represents efficiency, then Minecraft represents possibility. Someone will always try to create a cheaper, more efficient, lower-quality version of someone elseâs idea, whether that be people or AI. What matters is humanityâs ability to invent, to fantasise, to envision. AI can never take that original thought, and no copy will ever live up to the imagination of humanity. Because imagination isnât efficiency, itâs the fearlessness to dream.
Editor: Grace Lees