BBG Entertainment has confirmed that its upcoming Manic Miner remake used generative AI to assist with animations in the trailer produced for Gamescom, while stressing the development team completed the build in time for the event.
The relaunch of Matthew Smith’s 1983 platformer is described by BBG as a "faithful, pixel-perfect recreation" that will ship on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Mac and includes all 20 original levels with a toggle between classic pixel graphics and a modern reinterpretation.
The studio is marketing the remake with a number of modern features: revamped controls for contemporary platforms, new backgrounds with parallax scrolling and atmospheric effects, a global online leaderboard, a rearranged soundtrack incorporating pieces by Johann Strauss and Edvard Grieg, and an extensive interactive history of Manic Miner’s creation.
BBG has said the project carries Matthew Smith’s full authorization.
In an update published on 3 September 2026, BBG Entertainment CEO Stephan Berendsen provided a statement to Time Extension explaining the studio’s use of AI in the trailer.
He said the team finished the build just in time for Gamescom and, facing a compressed schedule for the press release and trailer, an artist used AI tools to speed up animation work.
Berendsen emphasized that the studio’s artist invested significant time in crafting the graphics and that the intention behind the remake remains to celebrate Matthew Smith’s original work.
He also acknowledged community concerns around AI and said BBG will keep those concerns in mind going forward.
Original reporting on the relaunch was carried by Damien McFerran on 25 August 2026.
The use of generative AI in retro-game revivals has been an area of industry attention: System 3 recently denied using GenAI to create assets for its forthcoming James Pond collection, a development that underscores how studios are publicly addressing AI use in legacy IP projects.
With platforms confirmed and core features outlined, BBG’s Manic Miner remake is positioned as a cross-platform celebration of a landmark 8-bit title.
The studio’s statement and the project’s authorized status mean fans can expect an officially sanctioned revival, while discussions about AI-assisted production remain part of the broader conversation around modern remakes and remasters.
The relaunch of Matthew Smith’s 1983 platformer is described by BBG as a "faithful, pixel-perfect recreation" that will ship on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Mac and includes all 20 original levels with a toggle between classic pixel graphics and a modern reinterpretation.
The studio is marketing the remake with a number of modern features: revamped controls for contemporary platforms, new backgrounds with parallax scrolling and atmospheric effects, a global online leaderboard, a rearranged soundtrack incorporating pieces by Johann Strauss and Edvard Grieg, and an extensive interactive history of Manic Miner’s creation.
BBG has said the project carries Matthew Smith’s full authorization.
In an update published on 3 September 2026, BBG Entertainment CEO Stephan Berendsen provided a statement to Time Extension explaining the studio’s use of AI in the trailer.
He said the team finished the build just in time for Gamescom and, facing a compressed schedule for the press release and trailer, an artist used AI tools to speed up animation work.
Berendsen emphasized that the studio’s artist invested significant time in crafting the graphics and that the intention behind the remake remains to celebrate Matthew Smith’s original work.
He also acknowledged community concerns around AI and said BBG will keep those concerns in mind going forward.
Original reporting on the relaunch was carried by Damien McFerran on 25 August 2026.
The use of generative AI in retro-game revivals has been an area of industry attention: System 3 recently denied using GenAI to create assets for its forthcoming James Pond collection, a development that underscores how studios are publicly addressing AI use in legacy IP projects.
With platforms confirmed and core features outlined, BBG’s Manic Miner remake is positioned as a cross-platform celebration of a landmark 8-bit title.
The studio’s statement and the project’s authorized status mean fans can expect an officially sanctioned revival, while discussions about AI-assisted production remain part of the broader conversation around modern remakes and remasters.
