Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is being promoted with an AI-slop music video created by developer Shift Up, and it’s all about as soulless as you might expect.
The video, which looks to be completely AI generated, features protagonist Evie singing an “original” song titled “Wanna be in Love” as she explores the dystopian cyberpunk city seen in the game’s official announcement trailer that debuted as part of Summer Games Fest.
At one point while wandering the city, Evie picks up a KPop Demon Hunters keychain. Towards the end of the video, there is “behind the scenes footage” of Shift Up developers “on set” with Evie, giving her direction, doing her makeup, and high-fiving members of the team.
An entirely AI-generated video serving as the first major piece of marketing for the Stellar Blade sequel following its reveal is certainly a choice, though it’s more than a little concerning Shift Up somehow decided this was a good idea.
It is, however, not all that surprising. Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-tae Kim earlier this year said (as translated by Automaton) during a South Korean “Economic Growth Strategy” briefing he believed AI to be an “essential tool for going up against large competitors like China on a global level.” He also said AI will not result in people losing their jobs, even though it will enable “one person” to perform the “work of 100 people.” South Korea as a whole is doubling down on AI, with the country set to invest nearly $14 billion in AI and related infrastructure.
The Stellar Blade franchise is no stranger to controversy, ranging from having to patch out unintentional racial slurs to the culture war over the appearance of main character Eve and her revealing outfits in the first game. Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is proving to be no exception, with some criticizing the sexualization of Evie, who appears more childlike in appearance, even as Shift Up promises “more appealing” outfits.
In an interview with IGN, Kim was asked whether he was worried about using a younger-looking character for Blood Rain, and how that may be perceived by players. He said Evie is indeed younger and smaller in size than Eve, but largely dodged the question.
“If you actually play the game, you will not think that,” Kim said.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain does not yet have a release date. However, the original Stellar Blade is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 later this year.