Shift Up Chief Technology Officer DongKi Lee has addressed the controversy surrounding a generative AI music video for Stellar Blade's protagonist, Evie, stating that the studio takes fan complaints seriously. The music video, released in July, drew criticism from players concerned about the increasing use of AI in game development.
Lee explained that the video was intended to showcase the character and world of "Stellar Blade: Blood Rain" but acknowledged the backlash. "We do take seriously and importantly what the fans have been saying, and the concerns they have been expressing about the music video," Lee told The Gamer in an interview. "From now on we definitely want to make a clear separation between the two, like game-related content and what we would call experimental content, like what we are experimenting with."
While distancing the game's development from the experimental video, Lee also defended the responsible use of generative AI as a tool in game creation. "AI has a lot of influence and impact on game development. But when we are using certain technologies or tools, what’s important is the direction and purpose they serve," he stated. "It needs to be used in a way that supports the developers’ creativity, know-how, and skills. It should be used as a tool. That’s the direction, and its purpose would be to make a great, high-quality game."
This statement from the CTO is a more measured response compared to earlier comments from CEO and Director Kim Hyung Tae, who had argued that the AI was not creating the character from scratch but rendering her based on existing designs and craftsmanship. Despite Lee's attempt to clarify Shift Up's position, some players remain skeptical, with online reactions suggesting a desire for an explicit ban on generative AI content in "Stellar Blade: Blood Rain."