Stellar Blade Developer Claims AI Can Amplify Productivity Exponentially

Will generative AI play a role in the development of Stellar Blade 2? It seems like a possibility, especially after recent comments from the CEO of Shift Up. The South Korean studio is hard at work on a sequel to the 2024 sci-fi action title, and its leader believes that AI might be essential for competing against the massive development teams emerging from China.

“We have around 150 people dedicated to a single game, while China can mobilize between 1,000 to 2,000,” Hyung-tae Kim, who also directed Stellar Blade, mentioned during a recent conference. He expressed concerns about their ability to compete in terms of both quality and content volume.

These comments were made during the “2026 Economic Growth Strategy” conference on January 9, which was attended by South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung. Kim suggested that generative AI and large language model tools could help level the playing field.

He claimed that with AI, “one person can perform the work of 100 people.” But will this lead to mass layoffs? Kim doesn’t think so, arguing that global competition will still necessitate utilizing every available worker. Sounds intriguing!

Is Kim genuinely concerned about the rising competition from China, or is he simply showcasing his geopolitical stance as Stellar Blade gains traction? After all, the original game sold millions across console and PC without AI assistance, even as major Chinese publishers like Tencent and NetEase flood the market with AAA free-to-play titles.

For now, it seems Shift Up is taking good care of its employees. Recent reports indicate that all 300 staff members received AirPods Max, Apple Watches, and a bonus of $3,400 to celebrate the company’s profitable 2025. Why no gaming consoles this time? They already gifted PS5 Pros and Switch 2s last year.

Shift Up is currently targeting a release for Stellar Blade 2 before the end of 2027. Let’s hope they’re not overly reliant on generative AI to make it happen.