Nexon is facing criticism after players spotted The First Descendant AI ads on TikTok, with at least one clip appearing to mimic a real content creator’s likeness. The ads, surfaced by Reddit user u/iHardlyTriHard, were found in just 15 minutes of scrolling. Four were clearly AI-generated, while two others looked low-effort but not explicitly AI-driven.
What shocked many fans wasn’t simply the use of generative AI, but that one ad resembled DanieltheDemon, a known creator in the community. Whether his likeness was used with consent remains unclear.
Fans call the AI ads “embarrassing”
For many players, Nexon’s choice stings all the more because the company already runs the Nexon Creators program, which boasts over 8,800 sign-ups. Instead of leveraging that network, the studio appears to be relying on machine-made promos that some say make the game look illegitimate.
“If I saw these ads before playing the game, I’d assume the game was fake or some sort of scam,” one player wrote. Another described the situation as “a kick in the teeth” to the community of real content creators.
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The First Descendant AI ads stir moderation concerns
Beyond the ads themselves, fans claim Nexon’s social team has been actively removing negative comments. According to several reports, critical remarks vanish quickly, and the AI ads are re-uploaded once backlash grows too strong. That moderation approach has only amplified frustration, with many players viewing it as damage control instead of accountability.
No comment yet from Nexon
As of now, Nexon has not issued a public statement addressing the controversy. Eurogamer has reached out to the company, but no response has been shared with players.
This isn’t the first time AI use in gaming promotions has caused trouble. Just last month, 11 Bit Studios faced similar backlash after players discovered AI-generated text in early assets for The Alters. The studio later clarified that those elements were temporary placeholders, not final content.
AI ads risk hurting trust in The First Descendant
The First Descendant has been building buzz as a co-op looter shooter, but the choice to use AI ads could dent its reputation before launch. For fans already wary of artificial content, this experiment reads less like innovation and more like a shortcut.
When your ads make people wonder if your game is a scam, you’ve already lost the message.
