Stellar Blade Director Advocates AI to Compete with US-China Developer Power
During a recent national briefing focused on South Korea’s “2026 Economic Growth Strategy,” Hyung-tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up and director of the highly anticipated game Stellar Blade, emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in competing against powerful game developers from the US and China. This briefing, held on January 9 and overseen by the president of South Korea, gathered various influential figures in government and business to address key issues facing the nation’s economy.
AI as a Competitive Tool
In his address, Kim shared insights on the challenges faced by the domestic game industry, particularly highlighting China’s significant advantage in workforce size and resources. He stated that while Shift Up devotes approximately 150 individuals to the development of a single game, competing Chinese firms can allocate between 1,000 to 2,000 team members. This disparity has raised concerns about South Korea’s ability to match the quality and volume of content produced by Chinese competitors.
AI Implementation and Job Security
Key to overcoming these obstacles, according to Kim, is the strategic adoption of AI technology. He argued that embracing AI can enhance productivity in the gaming sector, allowing fewer individuals to accomplish tasks traditionally requiring larger teams. “One person can perform the work of 100 people,” Kim asserted, proposing that AI should improve efficiency rather than replace human jobs.
- Korean game companies need to leverage AI to remain competitive.
- AI can enable smaller teams to match the output of larger competitors.
- Shift Up generates about 80% of its revenue from international markets.
Government Support for AI Development
Supporting Kim’s viewpoint, Hwi-young Chae, the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, highlighted that several large game companies are already integrating proprietary AI technologies. These firms are also focused on collaborating with smaller studios to enhance their capabilities. Chae noted that the government intends to provide financial aid to promote AI adoption, with specific investments planned for the year 2026.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, utilizing AI could become a critical element in helping South Korean developers maintain competitiveness on the global stage, especially against the backdrop of fierce competition from China and the United States.
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