Centaur Chaos: Is Crimson Desert Hiding AI Art, or Just Terrible Paintings?
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Players diving into Crimson Desert are spotting some truly bizarre in-game paintings, sparking a community-wide debate: is Pearl Abyss using AI art and breaking Steam's disclosure rules, or is it just a case of some incredibly sloppy artwork in a massively hyped game?
Right, so Crimson Desert, eh? Pearl Abyss's latest grand adventure has been on a launch rollercoaster wilder than a rogue teleportation spell. We've had players scratching their heads over controls that feel like they were designed for an alien species, investors doing the financial equivalent of a tactical retreat, and reviews that are, shall we say, a *mix* of emotions. But just when you thought Pywel couldn't throw any more curveballs, players have started spotting something truly bizarre festering in the game's art assets.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared. Apparently, some of the in-game paintings scattered across this sprawling world are looking... well, a bit *off*. Like a wizard's apprentice tried to conjure a masterpiece but ended up with a digital Frankenstein's monster. The big question swirling around the community is whether Pearl Abyss snuck in some AI-generated art, or if it's just a case of some seriously sloppy brushwork.
Take Lex Luddy's discovery on Bluesky, for instance. This bloke found a painting that's supposed to be some sort of grand historical battle, right? But lean in a bit, squint your eyes, and suddenly you're staring into what can only be described as a mosh pit of centaurs. And not your heroic, majestic centaurs, mind you. These are the "I accidentally merged five different creatures in the spell" kind of centaurs, with people on the ground seemingly morphing into rocks. It's truly a sight to behold, framed in the most ridiculously ornate gold that surely deserves better than this digital fever dream. You'd think that kind of frame would elevate the art, but no, it just makes the absurdity pop even more.
And it's not just the centaur party. Other players, like Reddit user Ok-Error-403, have shared examples of woodcut-style paintings that raise similar eyebrows. Ok-Error-403, despite loving the game, expressed disappointment at what they believe is AI art. But, as with all good mysteries, there's always a counter-argument. Plenty of mates are chiming in, saying "Nah, Jeff, that's just a wonky artist having an off day!" or "It's probably just placeholder art they forgot to replace!"
This whole kerfuffle brings us to a rather interesting crossroads, doesn't it? See, since early 2024, Steam — the digital gatekeeper for many a PC game — has had a pretty clear rule: if your game uses generative AI, you've got to disclose it on the store page. It's a sensible bit of wizardry to keep things transparent, ensuring players know what they're getting into. So, if these suspect paintings *are* indeed AI-generated, even if accidentally, Pearl Abyss could be treading on thin ice.
Now, given Crimson Desert reportedly sold two million copies in a single day (fair dinkum!), I reckon Valve isn't going to pull out the banhammer and send Pearl Abyss to the digital dungeon. But it *does* mean they might have to slap an AI disclosure notice on the store page after the fact or, more likely, quickly patch out these offending examples like a glitch in the Matrix.
For us players, it's a bit of a grim thought, isn't it? You dive into a massive, gorgeous world like Pywel, expecting grand vistas and meticulously crafted details, only to stumble upon a painting that looks like it was generated by a particularly confused magic spell. It breaks the immersion, shatters the illusion. And now, thanks to these eagle-eyed players, a new layer of dread has been added to our exploration – the fear of turning a corner and running face-first into another centaur-rock-person abomination. It makes you wonder about the quality control, or perhaps if they were just running a bit short on time and resources, hoping nobody would notice the odd digital smudge.
This isn't just about AI art, mate. It's about expectation, transparency, and the meticulous craftsmanship we've come to expect from big-budget titles. When a game is as hyped as Crimson Desert was, every detail comes under the microscope. And when developers stay silent – Pearl Abyss hasn't responded to requests for comment yet, which, let's be honest, is usually the equivalent of a wizard refusing to explain why their latest potion turned the castle purple – it only fuels the speculation. Are these just genuinely poor art pieces, or a sneaky attempt to cut corners in a game that's already massive in scope? My money's on a mix of chaos and tight deadlines, but the community's got its digital magnifying glasses out, and they're not putting them away anytime soon.
It's a tricky one, this. A reminder that even in the most ambitious digital worlds, sometimes the little things can cause the biggest ripples. And for Crimson Desert, it seems the launch week saga isn't just about choppy frame rates or weird controls; it's about whether the art itself is playing a game of "spot the AI" with its players. Fascinating, in a slightly horrifying way. (Original reporting by Amelia Zollner for Kotaku.)
Tags: Crimson Desert, AI Art, Gaming Controversy, Pearl Abyss, Game Development
Original article: kotaku