Loading...
Loading...
AI Art Controversy
March 22, 2026 at 08:24 PM
Initial version covering the AI art controversy from launch week
The AI Art Controversy refers to the discovery of AI-generated artwork within Crimson Desert shortly after its launch on March 19, 2026. Players identified multiple in-game paintings and 2D visual props exhibiting telltale signs of generative AI creation, including anatomical distortions, malformed faces, and nonsensical compositions. The controversy intensified because Pearl Abyss had not disclosed the use of AI-generated content on the game's Steam store page, which had been a requirement under Valve's policy since early 2024.
On March 22, 2026, Pearl Abyss issued a public apology on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging that some 2D assets created with experimental AI tools during early development had been unintentionally included in the final build. The studio announced a comprehensive audit of all in-game assets and committed to replacing affected content through upcoming patches. The Steam store page was also updated with an AI-generated content disclosure.
Crimson Desert launched on March 19, 2026, and sold over two million copies within its first 24 hours. Within days of launch, players began posting screenshots of suspicious in-game artwork to Reddit, Bluesky, and other social media platforms. The earliest Reddit posts came from users Rex_Spy and Due-Perspective9206 on the r/CrimsonDesert subreddit, who shared images of framed paintings found inside buildings that appeared to be generated by AI tools.
One widely circulated Reddit post from user Ok-Error-403 noted: "Been playing for 6 hours now and honestly am loving the game, but damn is it really disappointing to see Pearl Abyss use AI art every now and then throughout the world." This initial post sparked debate, with some community members questioning whether the artwork was genuinely AI-generated or simply low-quality art.
The most prominent example, highlighted by Lex Luddy on Bluesky, depicted what was ostensibly a historical battle scene displayed in an ornate gold frame. The painting contained bizarre anatomical errors characteristic of AI generation: figures resembling centaurs and other half-human, half-horse forms holding spears, with people on the ground appearing to morph into rocks. The image's composition was described as a "mosh pit" of impossible anatomy.
Players identified additional suspicious artwork at various in-game locations, including Oakenshield Manor in Hernand and Marni's House in Deleysia. Investigations by The Gamer found that "almost every manor house" in the game contained paintings with similar issues. Common AI tells noted by the community included:
Portraits with missing or malformed eyeballs
Horses depicted with five or more legs
Human and animal figures merging into one another
Castles and buildings with nonsensical architectural elements
Facial warping and distorted group compositions
A general "smear" quality reminiscent of early image generation models
As additional Reddit threads appeared with titles like "Collection of AI paintings" and "Too many repetitive AI images," it became clear that the issue was not limited to a single painting but extended to decorative 2D artwork throughout the game world.
On March 22, 2026, three days after launch, Pearl Abyss published an official statement on X addressing the controversy. The full statement read:
"We would like to address questions regarding the use of AI in Crimson Desert. During development, some 2D visual props were created as part of early-stage iteration using experimental AI generative tools. These assets helped us rapidly explore tone and atmosphere in the earlier phases of production. However, our intention has always been for any such assets to be replaced, following final work and review by our art and development teams, with work that aligned with our quality standards and creative direction."
"Following reports from our community, we have identified that some of these assets were unintentionally included in the final release. This is not in line with our internal standards, and we take full responsibility for it."
"We also acknowledge that we should have clearly disclosed our use of AI. While these tools were primarily used during early production, with the expectation that these assets would be replaced prior to release, we recognize that this does not excuse the lack of transparency."
"We sincerely apologize for these oversights."
"We are currently conducting a comprehensive audit of all in-game assets and are taking steps to replace any affected content. Updated assets will be rolled out in upcoming patches. In parallel, we are reviewing and strengthening our internal processes to ensure greater transparency and consistency in how we communicate with players moving forward."
The statement confirmed that the AI-generated assets were created as temporary placeholders during early production phases to help the team explore visual tone and atmosphere. Pearl Abyss explained that these placeholders were intended to be replaced by human-created artwork before release, but the replacement process was not completed for all assets before the game shipped.
At launch, Crimson Desert's Steam store page did not include any disclosure regarding the use of AI-generated content. This was notable because Valve had implemented a policy in early 2024 requiring developers to disclose the use of generative AI in games listed on the Steam platform. The absence of a disclosure drew additional criticism from players and gaming media outlets, with several publications noting that the omission appeared to violate Steam's content policy.
Following the public apology on March 22, Pearl Abyss updated the Crimson Desert Steam store page to include an AI-generated content disclosure. The added notice reads: "Generative AI technology is used in a supplementary capacity during the creation of some 2D prop assets." This disclosure brought the store listing into compliance with Valve's requirements, though critics pointed out that it should have been present from the start.
Community reaction to the controversy was divided. One segment of players defended Pearl Abyss, arguing that the affected assets were small background paintings and decorative props that most players would never closely examine. These supporters characterized the AI-generated artwork as a low-stakes issue in the context of an otherwise well-received game, suggesting that using placeholder art during development is a common and practical approach to game production.
On the other side, many players argued that a full-priced AAA release should not ship with any generative AI content, regardless of how minor or decorative it might be. These critics expressed concern that accepting AI art in background elements could set a precedent for broader use of AI-generated assets in more prominent areas of future games. Some players also took issue with the lack of upfront disclosure, viewing it as a breach of trust between developer and consumer.
Gaming media coverage was extensive. Outlets including PC Gamer, Kotaku, GameSpot, Engadget, Push Square, and The Gamer reported on the controversy. The Gamer's investigation, which involved examining artwork across multiple in-game locations over 150 hours of play, concluded that AI-generated paintings were present in "almost every manor house" in the game.
The Crimson Desert AI art controversy was part of a broader pattern of player backlash against undisclosed AI-generated content in video games. In the months prior, Sandfall Interactive had lost Indie Game Awards after a similar AI asset controversy involving Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Embark Studios was forced to replace AI-generated voice lines in Arc Raiders following player complaints.
The gaming industry had been grappling with questions about the role of generative AI in game development since 2023, with players and developers often holding opposing views on the technology's appropriate use. Valve's 2024 disclosure policy for Steam represented one of the first platform-level attempts to bring transparency to AI usage in games, but enforcement remained largely dependent on developer self-reporting.
The controversy coincided with Crimson Desert's already mixed critical reception, adding a layer of negative press to the game's launch window. Despite strong initial sales of over two million copies in 24 hours, the AI art revelations generated significant discussion about the game's development history and Pearl Abyss's production practices.
Pearl Abyss committed to replacing all affected assets through upcoming patches and pledged to strengthen internal review processes. As of late March 2026, the comprehensive asset audit announced in the studio's statement was still underway, with no specific timeline given for the completion of replacement artwork.
The incident served as a high-profile example of the reputational risks associated with undisclosed AI usage in commercial game releases, reinforcing the importance of transparency and disclosure in an industry increasingly shaped by generative AI tools.
