Published: May 11, 2026 
The whole NTE (Neverness to Everness) AI drama has opened a huge problem that no one can ignore now. Gamers spotted NTE using Gen AI in backgrounds, posters, and even parts of character designs, and the internet reacted exactly how you'd expect. But here is the part that nobody really wants to admit out loud. NTE is not alone in this, not even close. Some of the biggest gaming studios admitted they use AI too, and that changes the whole conversation. We think it is okay if gaming studios use AI (aren't you using it too), but diligently.
What Actually Happened With Neverness to Everness
Hotta Studio and Perfect World Games admitted to using AI-assisted tools, but only for a small number of background and environment assets. The two main spots fans called out were the Clear Skies in Summer arc, the Pink Paw Heist looting game, and the team is already reworking those assets. The devs also flat-out defended that the characters, stories, and world were made by real artists, writers, and designers.
Executive director and producer Yang Lei actually mentioned AI use before launch, saying it would stick to atmospheric elements and reference renderings. So the studio was not exactly hiding it, but people only really paid attention once they spotted it themselves.
Sony, Bandai Namco, HoYoverse, and Epic Games are Using AI Too
Just a few days after the Neverness to Everness situation blew up, Sony Group Corporation made another big announcement. The company revealed a new test project with Bandai Namco Holdings focused on using generative AI in video production. Hiroki Totoki, president and CEO of Sony Group, said AI should help boost human creativity, not replace artists. We think that is a good approach. Use AI to reduce cost and turnaround times, without sacrificing gameplay or artists. So gaming studios can release more games, push updates faster, and even reimagine old classics in a new light.
They also shared some of the AI tools already being used in released games. One of them is called Mockingbird, which can create facial animations from performance capture data much faster than the older process.
Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio are already using Sony’s AI facial animation tech. MLB The Show 26 could be the first Sony game to fully use it. Epic Games is also testing AI tools for Fortnite, with senior manager Stephanie Arnette saying it helps speed up development, including some art-related work. She did not share exact details but said Epic is fully in control of how AI gets used.
HoYoverse, the studio behind Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, also confirmed AI usage in upcoming titles. Considering NTE is being compared to HoYo games as a competitor, this one stings a little. The same fans dragging NTE for AI use might want to check what their favorite gacha studio is cooking up.
Even Capcom uses it for graphics, sound, and programming support, and Larian Studios has said it uses AI during development but not for concept art. If players decide to boycott every game that uses any form of AI, their list of games to play could get very small. Neverness to Everness was just the first game to get caught and face major backlash.
Why Do We Feel Using Gen AI Is Actually Alright
But if I can be honest here, a lot of AI hate train feels a little much. AI is not new. It has been around for years and years. The only thing that changed is that now anyone can use it with one easy click.
AI in game development is not as scary as some people make it seem. Getting mad at a studio just for using AI in 2026 is a bit like people back in the day being scared of the computer or the internet taking their jobs. When studios use it for repetitive tasks, faster QA testing, facial animations, or small background details like posters and ads in a city, it can save time without ruining what makes a game feel special. The parts players actually care about most, like characters, story, and combat, are still being made by real developers.
Of course, it will be a big problem if these studios try to fully replace artists or release lazy AI-made content as finished work. However, gaming studios are not doing that. They’re using AI as a tool, just as artists use Adobe Photoshop instead of creating every single detail by hand.
I am sure we’ll likely see more AI in games going forward, not less. We have to accept that AI is here, it is not going away, and the smarter move is figuring out how studios should use it properly. That means making sure real people don't lose their jobs, instead of pretending it does not exist.
