Developer Shift Up has released an AI-generated music video for "Stellar Blade: Blood Rain," an upcoming entry in the franchise, showcasing a song titled "Wanna be in Love" performed by protagonist Evie. The video depicts Evie navigating a cyberpunk city and includes fabricated "behind the scenes" footage of developers interacting with the AI character.
This marketing choice comes as Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-tae Kim has expressed a strong belief in artificial intelligence. Kim previously stated during a South Korean briefing that he views AI as an "essential tool" for global competition, particularly against China. He also posited that AI would not lead to job losses, but rather enhance productivity, allowing "one person" to accomplish the work of "100 people."
South Korea is significantly investing in AI, with plans to allocate nearly $14 billion towards AI development and infrastructure. The Stellar Blade series has previously encountered controversy, including the patching of unintentional racial slurs and debates surrounding the revealing attire of its main character, Eve, in the original game. "Stellar Blade: Blood Rain" appears to be continuing this trend, with some critics raising concerns about the sexualization of Evie, who has a visibly younger and smaller appearance compared to Eve. When questioned by IGN about this perception, Kim acknowledged Evie's younger appearance but suggested that playing the game would alter player perceptions.
A release date for "Stellar Blade: Blood Rain" has not yet been announced. The original "Stellar Blade" is slated for a Nintendo Switch 2 release later this year.