Stellar Blade’s director emphasizes the need for AI in South Korea’s gaming industry to stay competitive with US and Chinese studios, highlighting government support for tech integration.

As the conversation around AI heats up, the director of 2024’s Stellar Blade has shared his belief that it’s an essential tool for South Korean developers to stay competitive with giants like the U.S. and China. Speaking at a national conference, he framed his perspective through the lens of the industry’s economic realities.

Hyung-tae Kim, who leads Stellar Blade and serves as CEO of Shift Up, addressed attendees at the 2026 Economic Growth Strategy summit in South Korea, suggesting that AI could be crucial for the country to keep pace with its larger rivals. He noted that a significant portion of Shift Up’s audience is international, where competition is often dominated by Chinese products.

Kim highlighted that Shift Up typically deploys around 150 developers on each game, while Chinese studios can mobilize teams of 1,000 to 2,000 or more. This disparity is significant, and he argues that AI could help bridge the resource gap.

He reassured that job losses are unlikely, as the industry will require all available talent alongside generative tools. This sentiment is echoed by Hwi-young Chae, South Korea’s minister of culture, sports, and tourism, who mentioned that larger companies are already developing their own AI solutions, with plans to assist smaller teams in investing in AI starting this year.

These insights are not unexpected. The potential of AI lies in its ability to streamline workflows and significantly boost productivity. However, some critics argue that these tools can produce subpar results compared to human creativity, suggesting that human oversight will still be necessary to refine AI-generated content.

Considering that major players like EA reportedly utilize AI across their operations and Activision has faced scrutiny for employing AI assets, Kim’s assertion about larger companies advancing with this technology seems valid. Whether this trend will encourage others to follow suit is up for debate, but for now, Shift Up is certainly on that path. This could pose challenges for the development of Stellar Blade 2.

In recognition of his contributions to the South Korean gaming industry, the director of Stellar Blade has received a Presidential Commendation, though he attributes the success to the game’s fans, stating, “We will continue to do our utmost.”