Following the reveal of Project Windless during this week’s PlayStation State of Play, Krafton has moved quickly to address growing concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in the game’s development. The open-world action RPG, based on the celebrated South Korean fantasy novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears, drew immediate scrutiny from fans wondering whether generative AI played a part in creating the game’s striking visuals and narrative. Krafton’s response was clear: the Montreal-based development team is not using generative AI for content creation or storytelling.
In a statement provided to Eurogamer, a Krafton spokesperson explained that the studio’s teams enjoy significant creative independence when choosing their development tools. The Project Windless team in Montreal has opted for what the company described as a “traditional, craftsmanship-driven approach” to building the single-player experience. While AI was employed internally during early exploratory phases to help with iteration and efficiency, it is not a central or player-facing component of the finished product.
The developer also drew a distinction between generative AI and the conventional AI systems used throughout the games industry. Project Windless does incorporate traditional game AI to govern NPC behavior, dictating how characters react, move, and interact within the world. These systems are standard fare for modern games and are fundamentally different from the generative AI tools that have sparked heated debate across the industry.
The clarification arrives at a sensitive time for the gaming community. AI skepticism has been running high, particularly after Larian Studios faced backlash when founder Swen Vincke mentioned the use of generative AI in concept art development for an upcoming title. Larian ultimately pledged to stop using such tools during that phase of production to eliminate any doubt about the origins of its artwork. Krafton’s preemptive transparency suggests the company is keenly aware of how closely players are watching studios on this issue.
As GameSpot noted, Krafton announced in 2025 that it would invest heavily in reorganizing its business around AI, though the company stressed that this initiative focused on project management and operational efficiency rather than injecting generative AI into its games. The goal, according to Krafton, was to free up its creative teams to focus on making better games rather than replacing their work with automated tools.
Project Windless itself promises an ambitious adventure set thousands of years before the events of The Bird That Drinks Tears novels. Players will take on the role of a Rekon, a powerful humanoid bird, in a story about shaping the birth of a new kingdom. The game has been confirmed for PS5 and PS5 Pro, with other platforms still unannounced. Regardless of where it lands, Krafton appears determined to assure fans that human artistry remains at the heart of the project.