In a lengthy post on social media, the team at S-GAME, the studio behind the upcoming Phantom Blade Zero, spoke out against the use of AI technology in game development. The post stressed that, at every opportunity, S-GAME has hired real people to work on the game’s artistic elements, avoiding the use of AI technology as much as possible.
In their words, they think that ‘human artistry is not merely a means for creating value; it is the value itself.’
S-GAME Blocks AI Involvement in Phantom Blade Zero
The recent post on social media from S-GAME confirmed that Phantom Blade Zero is ‘in the intense, final stages of development.’ It was then stated very clearly that the accelerating timeline is not forcing S-GAME to resort to AI technology to get things done quicker, even if that’s the trend in today’s games industry.
Instead, everything from the character models, weapons, in-game maps, and voiceover segments is being (and always has been) painstakingly created with traditional human input, pushing firmly away from artificial intelligence-based solutions.
The team wrote:
We are fully aware that a profound technological revolution is unfolding around us. However, to this day, every single piece of content in our game has been crafted by the hands of real artists. We will not use AI visual tech that could alter our artists’ original creative intent.
With that being said, the game’s weapons have been hand-drawn based on traditional Chinese weaponry. The combat mechanics and move sets have been ‘motion-captured by over twenty highly experienced martial artists.’ The maps that guide players through the game have been hand-drawn using ‘Chinese brushes and Xuan paper.’
They wrote:
S-GAME didn’t just hire a group of developers to make a game; rather, in our pursuit of continuously building an exceptional, passionate team, we decided to make a game that everyone here could be deeply proud of.
Many of Phantom Blade Zero’s prospective fans have found this clarity and transparency refreshing in an age where so many studios are resorting to artificial solutions to iterate faster and more cheaply.
Are you happy that S-GAME is kicking back against AI in games? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news about Crimson Desert’s latest patch
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
This seems like a bunch of nothing then they’ll eat their words. Curious if their game uses AI heard in eastern animation companies are lying about using AI. Most Chinese entertainment companies use it. Anyone anti-AI just comes across old and out of touch honestly no different than a white supremacist that they normally make fun of.
Where is Showa American Story and Hitori No Shita games? Waiting on those China games