Project Spirits’ first key visual has fans questioning more than just the outfits: some are wondering if AI had a hand in its creation.

ShiftUp, the South Korean developer behind the action-RPG Stellar Blade and gacha shooter Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, has revealed fresh key art for its upcoming title, Project Spirits (formerly known as Project Witches).

The artwork was published on ShiftUp’s official website, alongside a short project description stating that Project Spirits is “a subcultural cross-platform title that promotes 'EASTERN Fantasy' as Shift Up's new flagship project.”

This marks a new IP for the studio, separate from Stellar Blade and NIKKE. According to ShiftUp, the new game is being developed as “an industry-top quality game based on Shift Up's proven IP production capabilities through past projects.”

What we know so far

A translated version of the hiring page provides a clearer idea of what the game will entail. The setting is described as a subcultural Eastern fantasy, where “subculture” appears to refer to Otaku culture. The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5 as a console-style 3D RPG with open-world exploration and sword/martial arts combat. The listing also mentioned that candidates should be “passionate players of Genshin Impact, Ming Dynasty Warriors, Zenless Zone Zero and Ghost of Tsushima."

On the monetisation front, it’s likely to incorporate gacha mechanics. The recruitment page mentioned that “the combat system will be heavily character-dependent," there’s an emphasis on “sustainable meta design and balance system,” and they plan to introduce a “flow of new content and repeated motivation design.” All of this seems to point to a structure familiar to fans of live-service and gacha formats.

Controversy around the key art

The newly-revealed key visual is raising eyebrows, not just for the usual ShiftUp trademarks of stylised and overly-revealing character designs that seem to defy the laws of physics, but also because some fans suspect it may have been AI-generated, or at least AI-assisted.

The artwork showcases two female characters in ornate, Eastern-inspired outfits which push the envelope of physical believability, especially when it comes to the cut and fit of the clothing.

While fans familiar with ShiftUp’s aesthetic may not find this surprising, others have taken a closer look and questioned the source of the image itself.

AI accusations raised by the community

On Reddit, users were quick to scrutinise the art. On the NikkeMobile subreddit, several details sparked suspicion. Redditor Kitsuneski pointed out signs that the background might be AI-assisted, noting that “The wood frames of several temples [show] bizarre artifacting, inconsistent smoothness, and illogical nesting of details; typical of generative AI.”

Meanwhile, Ultenth drew attention to anatomical issues in the artwork, saying, “Look at the placement of the hand on the left—the thumb’s coming from behind the sword, it’s just off.”

Others, Redditor Boethion added, that the artwork is “like that extremely generic art style that AI loves so much.”

However, others were quick to point out that the art style bears a strong resemblance to Destiny Child, ShiftUp’s earlier live-service game that shut down in 2023. This raises the possibility that the art could simply be in keeping with the studio’s established visual direction.

While it’s currently unclear whether the artwork was AI-generated or merely AI-assisted, it’s not the first time ShiftUp has faced similar accusations. The studio was previously criticised for using generative AI in past promotional material.

Regardless of the AI debate, many fans are seeing Project Spirits as a spiritual continuation of Destiny Child, drawing parallels not only in visual style but also in tone and presentation. This, combined with lessons from NIKKE, could offer a glimpse into what to expect when the game is fully revealed.