Pearl Abyss Announces In-Depth Review Following Discovery of AI-Generated Art in Crimson Desert

The developer of Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss, has initiated a thorough examination of its in-game assets after the unexpected inclusion of art generated by artificial intelligence. Players had discovered and shared potential AI-generated artworks and signs on Reddit, prompting the developer to issue a statement. According to Pearl Abyss, certain 2D visual elements were created during the early stages of development using experimental AI tools, but these were intended to be replaced by the final work and review of the art and development teams to align with the company's quality standards and creative vision. However, some of these assets inadvertently made it into the final release, contradicting the company's internal standards, for which Pearl Abyss takes full responsibility. The omission of AI-generated content disclosure violates Steam's AI content policy, which has now been addressed by updating Crimson Desert's Steam page. Pearl Abyss acknowledged the lack of transparency and apologized for the oversight, stating that while AI tools were mainly used in early production with the intention of replacing the assets before release, this does not justify the lack of disclosure. The company is currently conducting a comprehensive audit of all in-game assets to replace any affected content and is reviewing its internal processes to ensure greater transparency and consistency in communication with players moving forward. This development comes after Crimson Desert's launch, which received divided reviews from critics, with some praising the game's combat and others finding the story lacking and the gameplay overwhelming.