S-Game is the latest studio to have joined the conversation about the use of generative AI in the development of its upcoming action RPG Phantom Blade Zero. In a lengthy post on social media platform X, the studio has revealed that it is not using any AI visual tech “that could alter our artists’ original creative intent.” Further in the post, the studio wrote about how the character models were created with 3D scans and how they used traditional Chinese weaponry to prototype the in-game weapons.
“Phantom Blade Zero is currently in the intense, final stages of development. With the time we have left, we are pouring every available resource into pushing every aspect of the game to the absolute limit of our capabilities. We are fully aware that a profound technological revolution is unfolding around us. However, to this day, every single piece of content in our game has been crafted by the hands of real artists. We will not use AI visual tech that could alter our artists’ original creative intent.
“Our character models are built upon 3D scans of our phenomenal cast, who also provided the facial capture performances. The voice acting in both Chinese and English has been meticulously refined by our dedicated actors and directors, complete with full lip-syncing for both languages. The prototypes for our weapons are drawn from the vast arsenal of traditional Chinese weaponry. Sometimes, to better understand how a weapon’s weight and length impact movement, we have master swordsmiths forge real replicas.”
The studio went on to note that it had hired more than twenty highly experienced martial artists to motion capture the game’s combat. Also, to ensure the “most authentic kung fu techniques,” it consulted “directly with the masters and inheritors of traditional martial arts schools. When we needed authentic swordplay, we invited sword masters from Mount Emei; when we needed lion dance choreography, we brought in lion dance masters from Guangdong.” Its efforts certainly paid off, judging by the release date trailer which highlighted a lion dancer-like boss.
To help create the world for Phantom Blade Zero, the developers visited “many stunning locations across China, from ancestral halls in Fujian to ancient towns in Zhejiang, and even old steel factories in Beijing.”
Even the in-game guiding maps aren’t AI-generated. In fact, S-Game has confirmed that they aren’t even digital paintings. Rather, they are hand-drawn, using Chinese brushes and Xuan paper (crafted from rice straw and Tara Wing-Celtis or Blue Sandalwood bark, and often employed for calligraphy and painting). What’s more, the developer even roped in “young artists from the Chinese Painting department at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)” to draw them.
“We firmly believe that human artistry is not merely a means for creating value; it is the value itself,” it explained. “S-Game didn’t just hire a group of developers to make a game; rather, in our pursuit of continuously building an exceptional, passionate team, we decided to make a game that everyone here could be deeply proud of.”
Phantom Blade Zero is currently in development for PC and PS5, and is slated to be console-exclusive to Sony’s platform for at least a full year. It launches on September 9th and while an Xbox Series X/S version isn’t confirmed, it hasn’t been ruled out entirely either.
