Genshin Impact Accused of Using Generative AI in Promotional Art for Luna VI (6.5) Version

On the morning of Friday, March 27, Hoyoverse held its traditional presentation, revealing details for the upcoming version of its popular gacha game. While players focused on the new character Linnéa's abilities and the specifics of the new map north of Mondstadt, some users noticed a concerning detail in the promotional image for Genshin Impact's Luna VI (6.5) version. This anomaly led to strong suspicions that generative AI might have been used instead of traditional artwork, causing significant discontent among the community.

The promotional art for version Luna VI features Aether, Paimon, Beidou, Aino, and Navia gathered at the port of Nasha Village in Nod Krai. Initially, the image appears consistent with the game's established art style.

However, upon closer inspection, a detail emerged that has frequently served as a clear indicator of generative AI-created images. Examining Paimon's left hand reveals that she visibly has six fingers.

This discovery immediately ignited a wave of criticism against Hoyoverse across various forums and social media platforms. Many players expressed that using AI art is an insult to the dedicated artists who originally crafted these beloved characters. Others pointed out that Hoyoverse, a company generating substantial revenue through microtransactions, opting for AI instead of compensating human artists highlights a perceived corporate avarice. It's also worth noting that this isn't the first time a character with six fingers has appeared in official game art.

In defense of Hoyoverse, some argued that since the company legally owns the characters, they retain the right to generate images using AI without "stealing" art from others. They also suggested that generative AI is often more readily accepted in Chinese culture compared to Western societies. While the primary objection to AI-generated images frequently centers on the unauthorized use of other artists' work, it's not the only ethical consideration. Concerns regarding the significant water consumption required by these tools, the increased demand and cost for electronic devices, and broader ethical implications for labor also remain relevant.

Conversely, an alternative theory proposes that the Genshin Impact promotional image does not, in fact, utilize generative AI. Instead, proponents of this view suggest that Paimon's sixth finger could simply be attributed to human error on the part of the artist. Such mistakes are not uncommon, especially when artists are working under tight deadlines. Some illustrators even admit that accidentally depicting a sixth finger in an illustration occurs more often than they might like to acknowledge.

As of the time of writing, Hoyoverse has not released an official statement regarding the controversy. The community largely hopes that generative AI is not genuinely being implemented in Genshin Impact and that this incident is merely an error (and if so, that artists are given ample time to review their work thoroughly). However, it's important to remember that Hoyoverse has previously acknowledged using such tools in other titles, including Honkai Star Rail.

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play game with microtransactions, available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android mobile devices, and PC via the Epic Games Store.