New Postal Game Trailer Uses AI, Publisher Ends Project

Running With Scissors, the publisher behind the Postal series, has announced a new game: Postal: Bullet Paradise. Dubbed as a bullet heaven shooter with online co-op, the development behind the game lies with a studio titled “Goonswarm Games”. The announcement came with a trailer showcasing some gameplay and comic-styled cutscenes, but it was immediately picked up that the trailer was created heavily utilizing AI. Anyone familiar with the mantra behind Running With Scissors knows that this is one of the last publishers that would ever advocate for something like this, especially with the murky past involving Postal 3 being a blemish that the modern games even poke fun at. However, Running With Scissors has issued a statement regarding the trailer.

At a time when the use of AI in media is still vehemently discouraged, Running With Scissors caught wind of the trailer’s feedback and opted to issue a statement on X: “We hear your concerns, and we can assure everyone the art in question contained no AI, being as real as Krotchy’s cojones. This was simply a case of misidentification. We’ve taken the step of substituting the art ahead of time to keep the focus on the new game announcement.” They go on to say that they “trust Goonswarm Games” and “entrust and support as they embody the indie spirit we hold dear.”

Fans were quick to issue a Community Note on X to showcase the truth of the matter: “It’s clear that the studio Goonswarm Games uses AI, past games publsihed and made by it used AI for promotion, such as the Steam headers.” as well as “The video with the canceled key art clearly shows that it was AI generated, with no signs of sketchs and revisions.” Both statements were backed with sources and indicators that proved the usage of AI, and one look at Goonswarm’s other games shows clear usage as well.

For the integrity and good faith that Running With Scissors has built up to this point, it’s odd to see them respond in this manner. Using AI is a choice, but doubling down and denying the truth is a whole separate choice as well. It will be compelling to see where Running With Scissors pivots to after the universal backlash this has caused, as the publisher seeks to release Postal 2 Redux in 2026 thanks to an overwhelmingly successful Kickstarter campaign, and it would be a shame to squander that.

Update: Running With Scissors has ended the project with a new statement that you can read here. Note the usage of the words “very likely” that precede the term AI-generated, still not keen to admit fault in the matter despite the abundant evidence. Before the announcement, Running With Scissors co-founder took to their official Discord with messages such as “if anyone has an ai accusation just quit the server” and “ill go a step further, the anti AI mob has ruined art“.