Stellar Blade's Blood Rain Trailer Sparks AI Concerns
WHO:
Push Square - Shift Up is the developer of Stellar Blade: Blood Rain.
Kotaku - Hyung-tae Kim is the CEO of Shift Up and the director of Stellar Blade.
WHAT:
Push Square - The reveal trailer for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain has been criticized for containing elements generated by AI, with fans pointing out that some of the "Chinese writing" is described as "AI slop."
Kotaku - Users on social media have claimed that some of the symbols featured throughout Stellar Blade: Blood Rain’s world aren’t even real.
Kotaku - The official key art for the game, shared on Hyung-tae Kim’s social accounts, is believed to include generative AI elements, with specific mention of the windows on buildings looking "a bit off."
Push Square - The reveal trailer for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain has been criticized for containing elements generated by AI.
Kotaku - The game is a sequel to the 2024 title Stellar Blade and was officially announced during the Summer Game Fest.
Kotaku - Hyung-tae Kim stated that "one person can perform the work of 100 people" when utilizing AI tools in game development.
Kotaku - Shift Up typically devotes around 150 people to a single game, while competitors in China employ between 1,000 to 2,000.
WHERE:
Push Square - Parts of the game will be set in Chongqing, China.
WHEN:
Kotaku - The "2026 Economic Growth Strategy" conference where Hyung-tae Kim spoke took place in January 2026.
WHY:
Push Square - The skepticism surrounding the use of AI in the game is heightened by Kim's previous endorsement of generative AI, which has led to extra scrutiny of the game's development.
Push Square - The use of AI in the trailer has raised concerns due to its potential environmental impact and the ethical implications of using AI-generated content without explicit permission.
Kotaku - The skepticism surrounding the use of AI in the game is heightened by Kim's previous endorsement of generative AI.
HOW:
Push Square - The trailer features Chinese characters that have been described as "AI slop," indicating they may not be real or accurate.
Kotaku - Users on social media have pointed out that some buildings in the trailer appear nonsensical, suggesting AI assistance in their design.
(UPDATED June 7, 2026 09:54 UTC)
The reveal trailer for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain has sparked criticism due to the inclusion of elements generated by AI, with fans labeling some of the "Chinese writing" as "AI slop." Social media users have also pointed out that certain symbols in the game's world may not even be real, raising further concerns about authenticity. This skepticism is intensified by the game's creator, Hyung-tae Kim, who has previously endorsed generative AI, leading to increased scrutiny of the game's development.
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(UPDATED June 7, 2026 06:18 UTC)
Shift Up, the developer behind Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, has faced criticism for its reveal trailer, which features elements generated by AI, raising concerns about environmental impact and ethical implications. Hyung-tae Kim, the CEO of Shift Up and director of the game, has stated that "one person can perform the work of 100 people" when using AI tools, despite skepticism from users who have pointed out inaccuracies in the trailer's Chinese characters and buildings. The game, a sequel to the 2024 title Stellar Blade, was officially announced during the Summer Game Fest and will include settings in Chongqing, China.