> Phantom Blade Zero Producer Refuses AI, Including DLSS 5, Altering Artists’ Intentions

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SGAME, the game producer behind the action RPG Phantom Blade Zero, has publicly committed to using human labor exclusively, rejecting AI-generated visual technology. CEO and game creator Liang Qiwei (also known as Soulframe) affirmed this stance against NVIDIA’s newly announced DLSS 5 tool in a statement posted on X. “We firmly believe that human art is not merely a means to create value—it is the value in itself,” stated Qiwei, acknowledging the ongoing technological revolution but drawing a firm line for his studio. “We will not employ AI visual technology capable of altering the original creative intentions of our artists. Every content element in our game has been crafted by human artists.”

A copyright dispute involving a promotional video influenced SGAME’s decision to withdraw support for NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 tech. IT Homes reported that the video, which garnered 230,000 views on YouTube before being removed, raised concerns about copyright claims and YouTube’s handling of the situation. Although SGAME had initially planned to integrate DLSS 5, they ultimately decided that the AI filter clashed with their artistic vision, making them the first company to publicly rescind its support for the tool. Notably, Phantom Blade Zero does not currently support DLSS 4.5 technology. Sources reported that NVIDIA and DLSS 5 apologized for the AI-related issues; however, SGAME did not mention this in its initial statement. Other studios, such as Liquid Swords, had also cautioned against the complexities of integrating DLSS 5 into production and ensuring support across all consoles. SGAME, however, focused primarily on preserving its artistic aesthetic. To emphasize their commitment to human labor during the final stages of development, Soulframe revealed details about the game’s creation: Characters and Voices: Models are built from 3D digital scans of real actors, who also provided facial expressions. Voice work includes complete lip-syncing, meticulously adjusted for Chinese and English.

Blacksmith Masters: Prototype weapon designs are based on authentic Chinese armaments. Real blacksmith replicas were forged under the guidance of master craftsmen to accurately reflect the impact of weight and length on movements. Combat and Choreography: Motion capture involved over 20 experienced martial artists. The studio consulted directly with traditional school masters, inviting sword experts from Mount Emei and lion dance masters from Guangdong province to ensure authenticity. Kungfupunk Scenarios: The team traveled across China to digitize real locations, including ancestral halls in Fujian, ancient villages in Zhejiang, and old steel factories in Beijing. These sites were combined to create the game’s unique visual identity, dubbed “Kungfupunk.” Hands-On Maps: Player guides were hand-painted with traditional Chinese brushes on Xuan paper (rice paper) by young artists from the Chinese Painting department at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). Phantom Blade Zero, powered by Unreal Engine 5 and designed for PC and PlayStation 5, is slated for release on September 9, 2026. SGAME shared the following message on X on April 10, 2026:

Phantom Blade Zero Commits Maximum Effort to Honor Declared Artistic Principles Before Release

> With the time we have left, we are dedicating every available resource to pushing every aspect of the game to our absolute limits. We are fully aware that a profound technological… pic.twitter.comUVfWL0pLqr > > — Phantom Blade Zero (@pbzeroofficial) April 10, 2026 The game’s release will be a key indicator of SGAME’s commitment to its stated artistic principles.

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