Pearl Abyss has acknowledged that some AI-generated assets were unintentionally included in the final release of Crimson Desert, confirming that replacements are already in progress. The studio addressed the situation in a public statement following reports from players.
In a message shared on X, the developer explained that certain 2D visual props were originally created using experimental AI tools during early production. “During development, some 2D visual props were created as part of early-stage iteration using experimental AI generative tools,” the statement reads, adding that these assets were meant to be temporary and replaced before launch.
The studio admitted that some of these elements remained in the shipped version of the game, stating, “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.” Pearl Abyss also acknowledged a lack of transparency around the use of such tools, noting, “We also acknowledge that we should have clearly disclosed our use of AI.”
To address the issue, the developer confirmed that it is conducting a full audit of in-game assets and will replace any affected content in upcoming updates. “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,” the statement added.
Crimson Desert launched on March 19, 2026, and quickly achieved strong commercial results, surpassing 2 million copies sold within its first 24 hours. Despite this, the game has received mixed to positive reception, with criticism often directed at its complex controls and inventory systems.
Set in the world of Pywel, the game follows mercenary Kliff and features a large-scale open world powered by the BlackSpace Engine. As Pearl Abyss continues post-launch support, the studio has indicated it will also review internal processes to improve transparency and prevent similar issues going forward.
