The launch of Crimson Desert has been marked by a tumultuous period. While the game has received mixed reviews, its commercial success is undeniable. However, beyond technical issues and questions about its general quality, developer Pearl Abyss is now facing a new controversy: the presence of AI-generated graphics, identified by observant players.
Shortly after release, sharp-eyed observers raised suspicions about the origin of several in-game artistic assets, deeming them potentially created by AI. This information was never disclosed by Pearl Abyss, which goes against the transparency requirements of platforms like Steam regarding the use of AI technologies. The developer has finally issued an apology, officially acknowledging the use of AI during the early development phases. According to the studio, these tools were used for rapid prototyping of objects and were accidentally left in the final version.
In their statement, the team clarified:
“During development, certain 2D visual assets were created as part of early-stage iteration using experimental generative AI tools. These assets helped us quickly explore tone and atmosphere in the initial phases of production.
However, our intention has always been for any such asset to be replaced, after final work and review by our art and development teams, with work that aligns with our quality standards and creative direction.
Following reports from our community, we identified that some of these resources were unintentionally included in the final version. This is not compliant with our internal standards, and we take full responsibility for it.”
To rectify the situation, Pearl Abyss has initiated a comprehensive review of Crimson Desert’s content to identify and replace all remaining AI-generated elements. Concurrently, the studio pledges to revise its internal procedures to prevent such oversights from recurring in the future.
Have you noticed any AI-generated elements in Crimson Desert?