Don't like AI in games? Crimson Desert studio Pearl Abyss ain't care: it's expanding AI use 'throughout our entire development pipeline'

Pearl Abyss, the developer behind the game Crimson Desert, is expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) throughout its entire development process, according to the company's Q3 2026 earnings letter. The company initially apologized for the use of AI-generated art in Crimson Desert after players noticed it, but has since decided to leverage AI more deeply in its workflow.

Pearl Abyss explained that AI is now used to rapidly validate design concepts before actual implementation, which helps allocate development resources more efficiently and speeds up production. The studio emphasized that AI serves as a support tool for concept validation and pipeline productivity, with gameplay and content development remaining under full control of their development team.

Looking ahead, Pearl Abyss plans to further integrate AI technologies to enhance development productivity and overall quality. The company envisions AI being utilized in various stages of development, including automating repetitive tasks, supporting content creation, and optimizing testing. By expanding AI's implementation across its entire development pipeline, Pearl Abyss aims to deliver higher-fidelity games to the market more quickly.

The company acknowledged that some 2D visual props in Crimson Desert were created using AI during the early stages of development. However, these were intended to be replaced following final review by the art and development teams to ensure alignment with quality standards and creative direction. Pearl Abyss also promised to be more transparent about its use of AI in the development process moving forward.