Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN Music Video Draws AI Criticism
The backlash highlights a gap between SHIFT UP's stated AI strategy, which CEO Kim Hyung-tae has publicly championed, and fan expectations for promotional content, even among those who accept AI in development.
Key Facts
- SHIFT UP released the music video "Wanna be in LOVE" Feat. Evie on July 31, 2026.
- The video was created using game resources from Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN and regenerated with AI assistance, as stated in the video description.
- YouTube's disclosure section notes that audio and visuals were partially modified or entirely generated by AI.
- SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae said Evie was built over more than a year by the studio's artists and modelers, and AI did not create her from scratch.
- The supported platforms and release timing for Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN have not been announced.
Reporting from 3 sources: Automaton, GameBusiness.jp, Game Spark.
SHIFT UP released a music video for "Wanna be in LOVE" Feat. Evie on July 31, tied to the in-development sequel Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN. The video, which features protagonist Evie singing and walking through the game's city, was created using game resources and regenerated with AI assistance, as stated in the video description. YouTube's disclosure section notes that audio and visuals were partially modified or entirely generated by AI. The video has drawn criticism from the community, with comments ranging from calls to stop using AI altogether to complaints about low quality, such as Evie's face changing unnaturally and the text "Fairness and Peace" on her suit appearing distorted. Some fans who are not opposed to AI use still reacted negatively, saying "What matters is how AI is used" and "Don't use AI for promotions." SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae responded that the character Evie was built over more than a year by the studio's artists and modelers, and that AI did not create her from scratch. The A.I Labs logo appears at the end of the video, and the company has an internal organization focused on AI-driven development efficiency. Platforms and release timing for Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN have not been announced.
- Kim Hyung-tae founded SHIFT UP after working on character design for Magna Carta, and is known for Destiny Child and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.
- In January, Kim spoke at a presidential office session on the "2026 Economic Growth Strategy," saying AI lets "one person do the work of 100" to compete with China and the US on talent scale.
- According to a March 2026 ftoday report, SHIFT UP has moved past the proof-of-concept stage and is securing foundational technology for image and audio generation through A.I Labs.
- A SHIFT UP representative said, "The principle is not to apply AI directly to final deliverables."
- Critics called the video "artist-disparaging" for using AI instead of commissioning an artist, citing the distorted "Fairness and Peace" text on Evie's suit as an example of quality issues.
- Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN is set in the future of the original game, where protagonist Evie explores a new city; the series' signature sexy visuals remain in place.
- Kim said artists and modelers built Evie "from head to toe" over more than a year, and the music video was rendered from team-made material rather than created from scratch by AI.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.