"Man up": Former Microsoft and Blizzard exec calls out Crimson Desert devs for apologizing over AI art, because it'll "be in every single video game" someday
After Crimson Desert attracted some heat for generative AI being part of the development process, developer Pearl Abyss provided a statement clarifying the usage and apologizing. Mike Ybarra, a former executive at Microsoft and Blizzard, disagrees with the notion that this was necessary, and had made his views very clear on Twitter.
"Why apologize? AI, in one form or another, will be in every single video game," Ybarra, previously president of Blizzard and corporate vice president of Xbox Live, said in response to Pearl Abyss.
"I don't get why devs feel the need to bend over for the few folks who can't accept the reality that AI will be in every single thing - from video games to your fridge (it already is)," he states, before adding: "Man up."
Why apologize? AI, in one form or another, will be in every single video game. I don't get why devs feel the need to bend over for the few folks who can't accept the reality that AI will be in every single thing - from video games to your fridge (it already is). Man up.March 22, 2026
Well, that's one of the more jarring uses of that phrase I've seen, I must say. It's worth noting at this juncture, Ybarra's not associated with Pearl Abyss in any way and no longer works directly with the industry, having served as CEO of fantasy sports platform PrizePicks since 2024.
In its comment, Pearl Abyss acknowledged some AI use within "early-stage" parts of Crimson Desert, and some resulting assets found their way into the public build "unintentionally." The studio admitted it should've disclosed all of this, and says a "comprehensive audit" is now taking place.
Several major games have taken flak for using gen-AI assets, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, EA Sports FC 26, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In all cases, there's considerable pushback, leading some studios to patch out the work in favor of something more man-made.
The response to Ybarra's assertions is about what you'd expect. "I'm so glad you're not ruining Blizzard anymore," says one account. "This is yet another reminder of the many reasons your departure from the video game industry was so widely celebrated," says another. He might be right about its presence in smart fridges, but there are plenty in the industry who refuse to allow AI to become as commonplace as Ybarra proclaims.
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