This is genuinely so upsetting
The recent news about NetEase using AI in their art, and actually committing to keep using it in place of actual humans in their games is absolutely heartbreaking. Along with the fact that they've seemingly been using it for longer than the recent CoA IX video and current in-game events, and that so many people working in the company are being let go because of it.
One of IDV's strongest suits was the art direction. Visually stunning and unique, and it was the first thing that drew me into the franchise. You could tell these people were immensely passionate and creative, and now the management is throwing all of it away for profit. A big company that could easily afford to keep these artists wants even more money.
A lot of people put money into this game; money they paid out of love for the game that would go back to all the talented people who worked hard to deliver an enticing and fun franchise. One would at least expect to get a decent, genuine product. Now they expect to be paid for literal lazy, disingenous slop? How is that okay? Especially with how predatory the transactional system in the game already is?
This whole thing is actually so depressing. Aside from artists losing their jobs, the environmental impact and that it learns from stolen work, the one thing I'm the most frustrated about in generative AI is that I can never fully trust any image or video clip I come across on the internet. While yes, you always had to be critical about things you see on the internet since its dawn, but at least before you didn't have to second guess every single thing and look thoroughly for tell-tale signs before deeming that it's real. And it's getting harder and harder as time goes. We will never get that back. I'm constantly doubting everything, and I'm sick of it! Do I have to do the same for official IDV art now, where I previously could trust that they were always made by human hands? I'm gonna cry...
As for me, I haven't really figured out what I'll do yet. IDV has been such a huge inspiration for me for the last few years. I absolutely adore the lore and characters, and I'm still so invested in them. I've met many wonderful people through this fandom, and I still have ideas I really want to put out there, but I also feel bad about it all. I never played the game or gave them my money myself (was always scared of running into toxic players and have my mental health spiraling), but I have probably introduced or promoted the game to others with my art, who may have spent their money on it.
I really want to keep enjoying IDV as, like I said, I love its story and characters. But I think I need some time to figure out how I'll go about doing that, or if it's possible at all after everything. I know I haven't posted art in a while, but maybe I need to take a break. We'll see, nothing is set in stone.
One silver lining is that it looks like many people are hurt by this in the NA/EU server. If enough people, espacially the Asian player base, pushes back, maybe there's a chance they'll listen? I don't know what the attitude towards this is in other servers, but I hope they're upset about this as well cause NetEase is more likely to listen to CN-players. No matter what, don't stop being angry if you're like me. Let them know that this is not okay, but please be respectful about it.
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