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Crimson Desert developers apologise for using AI art

Credit: Pearl Abyss
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Bristol, UK
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The massive open-world RPG Crimson Desert has been a big hit with gamers, selling over 3 million units in five days. However, despite the early success, developer Pearl Abyss has now come under fire for using AI assets without prior disclosure on Steam.

The video game developer Pearl Abyss has faced criticism for using undisclosed AI-generated artwork in its new open-world RPG, Crimson Desert.

Players were quick to notice signs and paintings in the game that appeared to be made with AI. This included portraits with odd limbs, disproportionate object sizes, and blurry details that resemble the typical ‘slop’ images produced by ChatGPT and Sora.

Found this AI Painting.
byu/Rex_Spy inCrimsonDesert

Implementing non-human artwork into a video game without officially declaring it on Steam’s purchase screen goes against the company’s AI Content policy.

Following the backlash, Pearl Abyss has now updated its page to include a disclaimer, which reads:

‘Generative AI technology is used in a supplementary capacity during the creation of some 2D prop assets. Any such assets are replaced through our production pipeline by our art and development teams, ensuring they meet our quality standards and creative direction.’

The company has also publicly apologised, claiming that AI assets were left in-game by accident and were supposed to be swapped out before launch. A statement on X promises a ‘comprehensive audit’ and a ‘strengthening [of] internal processes to ensure greater transparency […] in how we communicate.’

This latest controversy follows on from several big, mainstream titles using AI without prior public knowledge. Call of Duty was hit with a barrage of anger last year for its blatant implementation of AI assets that stole the intellectual likeness of Studio Ghibli films, for example.

Authors and creatives are concerned about AI and licensing agreements moving forward, too.

A few weeks ago, we wrote about ‘Don’t Steal This Book,’ an empty novel published in protest of unfair AI implementation and distributed for free at the London Book Fair. It was created in response to the UK government’s failure to properly establish copyright laws – a process that is still ongoing.

While we’ve no doubt that Pearl Abyss is probably acting in good faith, we certainly can’t say the same for bigger studios.

AI is still widely disliked by the public, especially when it comes to the creative arts, and more regulation is likely to be rolled out in the coming years in order to prevent mishaps like this from happening.

For now, players seem somewhat satisfied with Crimson Desert, despite its many flaws. The game has sold over three million units in just five days, making it an instant success for the studio. It’ll want to keep that momentum up without losing the goodwill of its audience or investors.

Enjoyed this article? Click here to read more Gen Z culture stories.

Deputy Editor and Senior Writer Bristol, UK

I’m Charlie (He/Him), Deputy Editor and Senior Writer at Thred. I was previously the Editor full time at Thred before moving to Bristol in 2024. As a music and gaming enthusiast, I’m a nerd for pop culture. You can find me curating playlists, designing article headline images, and sipping cider on a Thursday. Follow me on LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

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