Have you ever stumbled upon a viral clip that just makes your jaw drop? Well, in 2025, a software engineer known as Desimulate did just that when he unveiled a stunning five-second clip of AI-generated pixel art that took the internet by storm. Imagine your favorite pixel artist reimagining the classic RPG, Daggerfall, but with jaw-dropping parallax scrolling effects. This clip wasn’t just another post; it was a digital masterpiece that sparked a wave of excitement across social media platforms, especially on Elon Musk’s Grok.
After the clip went viral, Desimulate decided to take a leap and transform this brief visual into a full-fledged game. But here’s the twist—he’s not relying on AI to create it. When asked why, he laid it out simply: “Right now, the tools aren’t really good enough.” In a recent chat with Ryan K. Rigney for the Push to Talk newsletter, Desimulate opened up about his creative process and the challenges he faces in the gaming world.
His viral post was a product of meticulous work with Midjourney, a popular AI art tool. Desimulate poured countless hours into refining the visuals, using a plethora of specific reference art to guide the output. “I just got obsessed with making something unique, and that post was the epitome of that for me. And it kind of came out of nowhere,” he shared with Rigney. It’s this obsession with creativity that propelled him into the spotlight, but it also led him to a daunting realization.
While AI can whip up a captivating five-second clip, it’s still light-years away from producing a complete game, especially something as ambitious as an open-world fantasy RPG with intricate pixel art. Desimulate explained, “The meshes are probably good enough to make a basic game. Something small. But this is a game that is kind of demanding, right? It’s going to be a real fantasy RPG.” He emphasized the need for performance and quality, stating that the current AI-generated meshes often come with too many triangles and polygons that can complicate the development process.
“In fact, it ends up taking more time to clean them than it would to just start from scratch,” Desimulate noted. So, rather than relying solely on AI, he’s using it primarily as a visual reference to kickstart his creative journey.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Desimulate isn’t a game developer by trade, but he’s diving headfirst into this ambitious project. He’s actively seeking out seasoned game developers to help transform his viral AI GIF into a playable game. It’s a bold move, especially considering the numerous Kickstarter campaigns that have promised amazing projects but never delivered. If I were a betting person, this may not be the horse I would choose. But it’s clear that Desimulate’s passion and vision are driving him forward.
During the interview, Rigney posed a fascinating question: why is Desimulate the one to bring this game to life? His answer? “I’ve got the vision, and everything starts with that vision. I’ve got the passion to make it happen. In two weeks, I’ve interviewed 40-plus people, brought a real team together of real game devs, started building, designing the game, and we’ve made a ton of progress.”
Despite being in the R&D phase, Desimulate’s commitment speaks volumes about the allure of AI tools like Midjourney. There’s a sense of ownership that he feels over the AI-generated content, even if his role in the creation process is relatively small compared to the vast amount of training data that goes into these systems.
As we look forward to what Desimulate and his team will create, it’s a reminder of the potential and limitations of AI in the gaming industry. They may not be able to produce a fully-fledged RPG just yet, but the journey of transforming a viral clip into a playable game is a story worth following. And who knows? This could be the beginning of something truly unique in the gaming world.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and creativity, projects like these highlight the intersection of human vision and artificial intelligence. As always, we’ll be here to keep you updated on the latest news, reviews, and tips in the gaming world. So, stay tuned, because this adventure is just getting started!
