- Primary Subject: Phantom Blade Zero
- Key Update: Developer S-Game has officially committed to using zero generative AI, opting for hand-drawn assets and professional motion capture instead.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 10, 2026
- Quick Answer: Phantom Blade Zero will not use generative AI. S-Game is utilizing human artists, professional martial artists, and hand-drawn maps to ensure authentic, high-value human artistry.
As Phantom Blade Zero reaches its final stages of development, S-Game CEO Soulframe Liang has stressed that the team will not be using AI for its art.
With generative AI becoming more rampant, more companies have been utilizing AI to help with art and game direction. Crimson Desert was previously caught using AI as placeholders in some parts of the game, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also revealed they used AI during the conceptualization phase.
This has sparked a debate on whether video games can and should use AI for their work. Amid discussions, the people behind Phantom Blade Zero have stressed that they will only use real human artists.
Phantom Blade Zero Will Not Use AI For Game Development
The creator of Phantom Blade Zero and the CEO of S-Game, Soulframe Liang, has released a statement regarding AI usage on their social media platforms.
They stated that the game will not utilize any AI visual technology that could alter their artists' original work. Everything from character models to the 3D scans to the in-game guiding maps will be made by humans. The statement deep-dived into the painstaking process the team went through to ensure the game contains only human artistry.
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In the statement, they expressed that they "firmly believe that human artistry is not merely a means for creating value; it is the value itself." They added that S-Game is a passionate team that is dedicated to making a game they could be proud of.
How Phantom Blade Zero Created Art Without AI
The statement didn't just express their resolve to create their game without AI - they also revealed the steps they took to ensure their game was in its best shape without artificial help.
The 3D scans of the models were created using facial capture technology, and the voice acting was performed by dedicated actors and directors in both Chinese and English. The prototypes of the weapons were drawn based on traditional Chinese weaponry. To better ensure the accuracy of the weapons, they contacted swordsmiths to forge real replicas.
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Phantom Blade Zero's combat is all motion-captured. To make sure the combat was realistic, they hired 20 professional martial artists and consulted masters of kung fu. For swordplay, they invited sword masters from Mount Emei. They even brought in lion dance masters from Guangdong for lion dance choreography.
The team visited several locations in China to get inspiration for the game's world. The maps were hand-drawn using Chinese brushes and Xuan paper (rice paper) by young artists from the Chinese Painting department at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA).
Phantom Blade Zero will launch worldwide on September 9, 2026. It will be available on PC via Steam and Epic Games, as well as PlayStation.
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