Pearl Abyss apologised after AI-generated images made it into Crimson Desert’s PS5 release
The developer said it used generative AI for early-stage 2D prop iterations, accidentally left some of those assets in the final build, and will replace affected art in upcoming patches.
Pearl Abyss issued a public apology on X after players discovered generative AI artwork included in the PS5 release of Crimson Desert.
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…
— Crimson Desert (@CrimsonDesert_) March 22, 2026
The studio said it had experimented with AI tools to “explore tone and atmosphere” during early development of some 2D visual props, but always intended to replace those test assets with art produced by the internal art and development teams. Pearl Abyss acknowledged that reports from the community revealed several AI-created pieces made it into the final release.
The assets were first flagged by players on Reddit, and screenshots spread within the community prompting the developer response. In its post on X, Pearl Abyss said, “We sincerely apologize for these oversights.”
I found this in game piece of artwork. Is this AI generated?
byu/Due-Perspective9206 inCrimsonDesert
The studio said it was conducting an audit of all in-game assets and will replace any affected content in upcoming patches. It added that it is reviewing internal processes and will improve how it communicates use of such tools to players.
Many players and observers raised ethical concerns about generative AI because large models are trained on existing artists’ work without explicit credit. Critics pointed out several of the in-game pieces were visibly flawed or nonsensical, which compounded frustration that the assets had not been swapped out during final production.
Crimson Desert launched for PS5 earlier this month, and the game’s scale has been cited as one reason why some issues slipped through. For more context on the PS5 build and the project’s recent schedule, see consolepcgaming.com’s coverage of the new Crimson Desert PS5 gameplay and its March 19 release details.
Pearl Abyss did not provide a firm date for the asset replacements when it posted the apology. The developer said updated art would be delivered “in upcoming patches.”
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Crimson Desert
Developed by Pearl Abyss
Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game set in the beautiful yet brutal continent of Pywel. Embark on a journey as the Greymane Kliff and restore what has been lost. Explore uncharted lands, fight against threats that stand in your way, and discover the wonders the world has in store.
- Genre: Adventure
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac
- Modes: Single player
- Release: 2026-03-19
- Publisher: Pearl Abyss
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Age Rating:
USK 18 / CLASS_IND 18 / ESRB M / PEGI 18 / ACB MA 15+ / CERO Z / GRAC 18+
- IGDB Rating: 98.6/100
