Stellar Blade’s Latest Music Video Criticized as ‘AI Slop’

Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has stirred up some controversy once again, and even its staunchest supporters are expressing dissatisfaction with the latest development. The company recently dropped a music video for the track “Wanna be in Love,” featuring Evie, the lead character from the upcoming Stellar Blade: Blood Rain. The catch? The trailer was produced using generative AI.

The video, which showcases Evie exploring a weightless, futuristic city, suffers from awkward lip-syncing and the telltale signs of AI-generated content. True to Shift Up’s “signature style,” the trailer includes an abundance of close-ups of Evie’s backside. In the video description, the developer acknowledged the use of AI, stating that “sounds or visuals were altered or fully generated.”

There are also some questionable moments in the music video that flirt with copyright issues. Around the two-minute mark, Evie is seen holding a keychain featuring the KPop Demon Hunters logo, and the video concludes with a shot of a Sony camera. While the original Stellar Blade was published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, it remains unclear whether these references were authorized, especially since Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is being published by Shift Up independently.

The reaction in the YouTube comments section reveals how fans are responding to the AI-generated trailer. One top comment reads, “Are we deadass?” while another quips, “They really thought they were cooking with this AI slop.” A third comment humorously notes, “Your RAM just went up in prices while watching this video.”

There’s a growing backlash against generative AI technologies among gamers and the wider American public, driven by ethical, environmental, and job-loss concerns. A recent survey indicated that 39 percent of respondents believe AI does more harm than good, compared to just nine percent who think otherwise.

In the gaming industry, many players are worried about the rise of AI-generated content and its impact on hardware prices. The expansion of AI data centers has contributed to a RAM shortage, leading to significant price hikes in gaming hardware. Currently, all modern consoles are priced higher than their launch costs; for instance, the base Xbox Series X will be $300 more expensive by August than it was at its 2020 release.

This isn’t the first time Shift Up has faced controversy with Stellar Blade: Blood Rain. The initial announcement trailer drew criticism for the overt sexualization of Evie, with many players noting that she appears significantly younger than the main character from the previous game.

Blood Rain will introduce a new protagonist.