Usage of generative AI remains one of the gaming industry’s most divisive topics these days. But despite pushback and controversies, more studios appear to be willingly — and quietly — integrating the technology into their workflow. The latest example comes from NEOWIZ’s Round8 Studio, the Korean developer behind Lies of P, which is now looking for an ‘AI Creator.’ While the opening doesn’t specify what project the role is intended for, the studio has confirmed it’s working on a follow-up and teased a Wizard of Oz adaptation, following the success of the base game and the Overture expansion.
The job opening was recently spotted on NEOWIZ’s official recruitment page. Translated via machine translation, it details how the AI Creator role would involve using generative AI tools such as Stable Diffusion and Midjourney to generate character and background concept drafts, expand visual variations, and assist with AI-based texturing and image-to-3D workflows. Beyond just simple prompt generation, applicants are expected to train project-specific AI models and build custom libraries tailored to a project’s visual identity using tools such as LoRA and ControlNet. They would also need to work on post-processing AI-generated content through ‘in-painting, out-painting,’ and high-resolution upscaling to ensure assets are ‘suitable for use’ in an actual game.
No doubt that the listing may immediately set off alarm bells for Lies of P fans and gamers who are already skeptical of AI creeping into game development. However, it seems that an AI Creator job is focused more on concept art and asset support rather than outright replacing traditional creatives and artists. Applicants are still expected to possess a ‘high level of fundamental understanding’ of illustration techniques before using AI tools. NEOWIZ also mentions requiring experience with traditional 2D concept art or 3D modeling software such as Blender and ZBrush, suggesting it still sees conventional artistic skills as essential, at the very least.
That said, the Lies of P‘s developer AI Creator job listing has become another sign that generative AI is steadily embraced in the game development process all over the world. Talks about AI utilization in the region gained even more momentum after SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae argued that the Korean gaming industry will need to embrace AI more aggressively to remain globally competitive. “I believe that we can only barely compete with industries like China or the United States — that require massive workforce deployments — if all [manpower] are proficient in AI and one person can perform the role of 100,” he said during a national briefing reported by Gamemeca (via machine translation).
What do you think? Is using AI tools up to concept generation a fair compromise, or should studios avoid generative AI altogether? Let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to GameObserver for more updates on the gaming industry.
