At first glance, Neverness to Everness has everything that a gacha game fan wants and needs--cute character models, a supernatural open world, and even realistic cars to drive around in. However, just a few days after launch, some players have begun to spot assets suspected to have been created with generative AI. As a result, popular streamers and even a voice actor that worked on the game have started refusing to work with Neverness to Everness and its developer, Hotta Studio.
In one video, many are pointing out "artifacting"--unintended distortions that occur as a result of using AI to generate an asset. At one point, the character's entire outfit design appears to change after his hand blocks a portion of it.
In another part of the game, players claim that Neverness to Everness features a billboard with scenes from the anime Weathering With You that appear to have an AI filter over them or have been potentially fed into a generative AI tool to create the advertisement. A third observation claims that there is "an 18-minute generative AI anime short film in the theater" in Neverness to Everness.
Now, popular streamers have become aware of these claims and are distancing themselves as a result. Ironmouse, who was sponsored by Hotta Studio, says that her team were "lied" to about the use of AI in Neverness to Everness. "They had told my people that there was literally no AI in it," she explains. "I didn't know until I saw that thing on Twitter after the stream ... They told my sponsor people, they said, 'No, we do not have AI in anything. There is no AI anywhere.' and it's just like, why are you fucking lying, bro?" Needless to say, Ironmouse has dropped her sponsorship and is no longer streaming the game.
Another VTuber, Shylily, found out midway through her stream about the possible use of gen AI in the game which caused her to end her stream early. "I'm a VTuber, I am very close with artists ... If you are upset that I ... want to end my stream and look into whether this game has AI or not before sitting here promoting this game, if you want to stop supporting me because of that then that's just how it is," she explains. "I have no problem with NPC generated AI dialogue or whatever ... I think the problem that people don't realize is imagine if you work on something, you create a thing, hard work and effort, and then someone comes along and they grab thousands of whatever people make so they can sell that stuff for profit without your permission at all. I don't see how that's okay."
One of the game's English voice actors, Meggie-Elise, has also released a statement disapproving of potential gen AI use in NTE. "I recently found out that a game I worked on has been using AI and has been dishonest about it. I want to be clear that I do not support generative AI in any creative field, including voiceover, art, writing, or music," her statement reads. "If this is not addressed and removed, I will not be continuing work with this team."
GameSpot has reached out to Hotta Studio for comment.
Neverness to Everness is not the only game to have come under fire for potential use of AI. The hugely popular extraction shooter Arc Raiders was also criticized for using AI for character voices.
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In one video, many are pointing out "artifacting"--unintended distortions that occur as a result of using AI to generate an asset. At one point, the character's entire outfit design appears to change after his hand blocks a portion of it.
In another part of the game, players claim that Neverness to Everness features a billboard with scenes from the anime Weathering With You that appear to have an AI filter over them or have been potentially fed into a generative AI tool to create the advertisement. A third observation claims that there is "an 18-minute generative AI anime short film in the theater" in Neverness to Everness.
Now, popular streamers have become aware of these claims and are distancing themselves as a result. Ironmouse, who was sponsored by Hotta Studio, says that her team were "lied" to about the use of AI in Neverness to Everness. "They had told my people that there was literally no AI in it," she explains. "I didn't know until I saw that thing on Twitter after the stream ... They told my sponsor people, they said, 'No, we do not have AI in anything. There is no AI anywhere.' and it's just like, why are you fucking lying, bro?" Needless to say, Ironmouse has dropped her sponsorship and is no longer streaming the game.
Another VTuber, Shylily, found out midway through her stream about the possible use of gen AI in the game which caused her to end her stream early. "I'm a VTuber, I am very close with artists ... If you are upset that I ... want to end my stream and look into whether this game has AI or not before sitting here promoting this game, if you want to stop supporting me because of that then that's just how it is," she explains. "I have no problem with NPC generated AI dialogue or whatever ... I think the problem that people don't realize is imagine if you work on something, you create a thing, hard work and effort, and then someone comes along and they grab thousands of whatever people make so they can sell that stuff for profit without your permission at all. I don't see how that's okay."
One of the game's English voice actors, Meggie-Elise, has also released a statement disapproving of potential gen AI use in NTE. "I recently found out that a game I worked on has been using AI and has been dishonest about it. I want to be clear that I do not support generative AI in any creative field, including voiceover, art, writing, or music," her statement reads. "If this is not addressed and removed, I will not be continuing work with this team."
GameSpot has reached out to Hotta Studio for comment.
Neverness to Everness is not the only game to have come under fire for potential use of AI. The hugely popular extraction shooter Arc Raiders was also criticized for using AI for character voices.
Source