Pearl Abyss has acknowledged that some AI-generated assets were unintentionally included in the final release of Crimson Desert, and confirmed that a replacement is already in the works. The studio addressed the situation in an official 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, several 2D visual props were created as part of early iterations using experimental AI generation tools,” the statement reads, adding that these assets are temporary and intended to be replaced prior to launch.
The studio acknowledged that some of these elements remained in the game’s shipping version, stating, “Following reports from the community, we have confirmed that some of these assets were unintentionally included in the final release. This does not comply with our internal standards, and we take full responsibility for it.” Pearl Abyss also acknowledged that there was a lack of transparency regarding the use of such tools, saying it “also acknowledges that the use of AI should have been clearly disclosed.”
To address this issue, the developer has conducted a complete audit of its in-game assets and has confirmed that it will replace the affected content in a future update. “We are currently conducting a comprehensive audit of all in-game assets and are taking steps to replace affected content. Updated assets will be rolled out in a future patch,” the statement added.
Crimson Desert was released on March 19, 2026, and quickly became a commercial success, exceeding 2 million copies sold within the first 24 hours. Despite this, the game has received mixed to positive reviews, with criticism often leveled at its complex controls and inventory system.
Set in the world of Pywel, the game follows the mercenary Cliff and features a massive open world powered by the BlackSpace Engine. While Pearl Abyss will continue its post-launch support, the studio has indicated that it will also review its internal processes to improve transparency and prevent similar issues in the future.
