The Relic: First Guardian is almost here, with reviews being mixed, although ours was generally favourable, despite performance issues, but there’s a bigger issue that fans have been bringing up where the game is concerned. Has The Relic: First Guardian been using any AI? After having the opportunity to have a chat with Game Director In-hyeok Park, we now have an answer. When asked about AI usage, he said:
“Project Cloud Games is a small studio that has been working on The Relic: First Guardian for many years. There is no AI used in the final game; however, in the early design stages, AI was used in a very few areas to help in the concept stage of development. This involved a few pieces of concept art for loading screens and a handful of icon images for the consumables.
Although there may be one or two elements of this AI still in the preview build, the final product will not have any of this AI work in the game. AI was also used in the early stage to help localise text, although all text was then manually reviewed and edited by Project Cloud Staff and no AI was used in the game’s voice-overs.“
So that puts that to bed then! I did mention in my review that there were some aspects that felt like they were either AI or just poorly performed voice notes, and some fans have given accusations towards the loading screens, which was mentioned above.
The ‘acceptability’ between the Eastern and Western gaming industry when it comes to Generative AI is huge, with it being much more normalised in Eastern culture than it is in Western, but Park has gone to some lengths to assuage any worries about AI being used in the final build itself.
The Relic: First Guardian releases July 31st on PlayStation 5, and PC, with XBOX Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 coming later in the year.
What do you think? Will you be picking up The Relic: First Guardian when it releases? Let us know in the comments below!
For your next read, check out why one contentious mechanic was included in the game, and why it’s good another feature was cut from it early.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
