The First Descendant AI Ads Controversy: What Went Wrong

The Bizarre Discovery That Started It All

The controversy erupted when sharp-eyed members of the gaming community noticed something distinctly off about The First Descendant’s TikTok advertisements. These weren’t your typical gaming ads featuring real streamers or gameplay footage. Instead, they featured what appeared to be AI-generated versions of actual content creators, complete with unnaturally smooth skin, elongated facial movements, and voices that sounded like they’d been processed through multiple AI filters.

What made this particularly egregious was the discovery that one of these AI-generated ads was using the likeness of DanieltheDemon, a real content creator who had absolutely no affiliation with The First Descendant. As he confirmed himself: “I have no affiliation nor contract with The First Descendant. They stole my face/reactions from my most viral video.” When I read his statement, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anger and disbelief. In my two decades of gaming, I’ve never seen such a blatant misuse of a creator’s identity.

Technical Red Flags: How to Spot AI-Generated Gaming Content?

Having analyzed dozens of these ads myself, I’ve identified several telltale signs that immediately gave away their artificial nature. The lip-syncing issues were perhaps the most obvious – movements that didn’t quite match the audio, creating an uncanny valley effect that made viewers uncomfortable. The skin texture was another dead giveaway, appearing almost porcelain-like with an unnatural smoothness that no amount of ring lighting could achieve.

But what really sealed the deal for me was the voice quality. As someone who’s watched countless gaming streams and created content myself, I can tell you that these AI voices had that distinctive robotic undertone – the kind you get when text-to-speech tries too hard to sound human. The awkward pronunciation handling, especially with gaming terminology, was painful to witness. It’s like listening to someone read a script they don’t understand, except that someone is an algorithm.

This type of gaming community controversy isn’t entirely new, but the use of AI to create fake influencer content represents a dangerous new frontier in deceptive marketing practices.

Community Backlash: When Trust Breaks Down

The gaming community’s reaction was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Reddit user darknessinzero777 summed it up perfectly by calling the ads “embarrassing,” while Mattdoss shared that they were initially interested in the game but the AI ads made it look “cheap and lazy.” I completely understand this sentiment – when a game can’t even be bothered to work with real creators, what does that say about their commitment to quality?

What particularly frustrates me is that Nexon has access to over 8,800 members in their official Nexon Creators program. TizMarcoMania made an excellent point: “There are plenty of people they could have asked to make a short clip. They should have dropped into the streams of anyone who plays the game and just ask them.” This is exactly right – the gaming community is full of passionate creators who would jump at the chance to promote a game they enjoy.

Similar to the recent gaming platform backlash we’ve seen with other major titles, this controversy highlights how quickly trust can erode when companies prioritize shortcuts over authentic community engagement. The reaction mirrors what we’ve observed in other recent gaming industry controversies where transparency and community trust became central issues.

Nexon’s Response: Adding Insult to Injury

Nexon’s official response to the controversy somehow managed to make things worse. They claimed these were “irregularities identified in the operation of our TikTok Creative Challenge for creators” and that they were conducting a “joint investigation with TikTok.” The statement suggested that creators had “voluntarily submitted their content to be used as advertising materials,” but this explanation raises more questions than it answers.

From my perspective, there are only two possible scenarios here, and neither reflects well on Nexon. Either they knowingly used AI to create fake influencer content, or they were so negligent in their oversight that they didn’t notice obviously artificial content being published under their brand. As someone who’s worked in gaming marketing, I can tell you that both scenarios represent a fundamental failure in brand management.

The Broader Implications for Gaming Marketing

This controversy extends far beyond just The First Descendant. It sets a dangerous precedent for how gaming companies might approach influencer marketing in the future. If major publishers think they can replace real creators with AI facsimiles, we’re heading down a dark path for authentic gaming content.

I’ve always believed that the strength of gaming marketing lies in its authenticity – real players sharing genuine experiences. When you replace that with AI-generated content, you lose the very essence of what makes gaming communities special. The trust between developers and players, already fragile in many cases, takes another hit.

This incident also raises important questions about digital ethics in gaming marketing that we’ve seen discussed in other contexts, such as concerns about gaming industry standards and the need for more transparent practices.

Lessons for Gamers: Protecting Yourself in the AI Era

As this technology becomes more sophisticated, we as gamers need to become more vigilant. Here’s my advice: always verify the source of gaming content you see on social media. Look for those telltale signs I mentioned earlier – unnatural movements, perfect skin texture, robotic voices. If something feels off, it probably is.

More importantly, support real content creators. Follow their official channels, engage with their content, and make it clear to gaming companies that we value authentic voices over artificial ones. The gaming community has always been about real connections between players, and we can’t let AI marketing tactics erode that foundation.

Moving Forward: What This Means for The First Descendant?

The damage to The First Descendant’s reputation is significant and likely long-lasting. In my experience, gaming communities have long memories when it comes to breaches of trust. The game, which was already struggling to maintain its player base, now faces an uphill battle to regain credibility.

What frustrates me most is that this was entirely avoidable. A simple partnership with real creators, transparency in marketing practices, and respect for the gaming community would have prevented this entire controversy. Instead, we’re left with another cautionary tale about what happens when gaming companies prioritize shortcuts over authentic engagement.