Launch Day Turned Controversy Day
NTE: Neverness to Everness launched on April 29, 2026 to considerable hype. Developed by Hotta Studio and published by Perfect World Games, the supernatural open-world gacha RPG had been praised for its generous pull rates, stunning visuals, and an ambitious open-world design that positioned it alongside Genshin Impact as a serious genre contender.
Within days, that hype collapsed under a wave of accusations: the game contained AI-generated assets, and the studio had allegedly lied to sponsored creators about it.
What Players Found
| Asset | Allegation | Evidence Cited |
|---|---|---|
| In-game poster "Clear Skies in Summer" | AI generation | Near-identical composition to the official poster for Makoto Shinkai's Weathering with You |
| Pink Paws Heist mission cinematic | AI-generated video | Described by players as an "18-minute generative AI anime short" embedded in the game's theater |
| In-game TV billboard | AI artifacts | Unusual frame distortions and disproportionate figures consistent with AI output |
The Weathering with You comparison was the flashpoint. Side-by-side comparisons circulated on X/Twitter and went viral within hours. The issue wasn't just that AI was suspected — it was that the poster appeared to replicate a real, beloved anime film's key art without attribution.
Ironmouse Pulls the Plug
Ironmouse — a top Twitch VTuber and winner of The Game Awards 2024 Content Creator of the Year — dropped her NTE sponsorship on May 3, 2026, revealing she had explicitly asked the studio about AI usage before agreeing to the deal.
""Whenever I get sent an offer for a sponsor, I always make sure to tell people: 'Can you make sure, double triple quadruple check that this does not have AI in it. I will not accept it if it does.' And then they assured me: 'No, don't worry, you're good, it's fine.' And then I find out — it's not fine." — Ironmouse
She called it the "fastest uninstall" of her life. The clip went viral, amplifying the controversy beyond the NTE player base to the broader VTuber and gaming community.
Ironmouse has a documented, consistent policy of refusing AI-linked sponsorships. Hotta Studio reportedly answered her team's pre-partnership AI checks with explicit denial. That deception — not just the AI use itself — became the central issue for many viewers and fellow creators.
VTuber Shylily and Voice Actor Meggie-Elise Also Speak Out
VTuber Shylily ended her NTE stream mid-session after learning about the controversy.
""I'm a VTuber. I am very close with artists. Imagine if you work on something, you create a thing with hard work and effort, and then someone comes along and grabs thousands of things people made so they can sell that stuff for profit without your permission. I don't see how that's okay." — Shylily
NTE's English voice actor Meggie-Elise, listed in the game's credits, released a public statement:
""I recently found out that a game I worked on has been using AI and has been dishonest about it. I want to be clear that I do not support generative AI in any creative field, including voiceover, art, writing, or music. If this is not addressed and removed, I will not be continuing work with this team." — Meggie-Elise
Hotta Studio's Response
After nearly a week of public pressure, Hotta Studio issued an official statement on May 7, 2026:
""Neverness to Everness is built on human creativity. The characters, stories, and world you experience are the work of artists, writers, and designers. AI-assisted tools were used only on a small number of background and environmental assets, not on the characters or stories that define this game. We're already reviewing and reworking the flagged assets: 'Clear Skies in Summer' and 'Pink Paws Heist'. Your feedback shapes this game, so please keep it coming." — Hotta Studio
Both flagged assets were removed immediately. However, the statement did little to quell criticism entirely — many pointed out that admitting AI use in "background and environmental assets" was effectively an acknowledgment that earlier denials to creators like Ironmouse were false.
This isn't an isolated incident. Arc Raiders, one of 2026's most-watched extraction shooters, also faced criticism for using AI-generated character voices. The NTE controversy may accelerate demands for disclosure standards around AI use in games.
Where NTE Stands Now
Despite the controversy, NTE continues to operate and grow:
| Status | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current availability | PC (standalone client), PS5, iOS, Android, macOS |
| Steam release | July 2026 (store page live, wishlists open) |
| Version 1.1 "Dreamwalk Corridor" | Scheduled June 3, 2026 |
| AI flagged assets | Removed — "Clear Skies in Summer" and "Pink Paws Heist" reworked |
The game itself retains positive reception for its core gameplay. Whether the studio can rebuild creator trust before the Steam launch in July remains to be seen.
Community Reaction
""Ironmouse builds her reputation on principled stances. She specifically asks about AI before every single sponsorship deal. Being lied to, point-blank, is a different level of betrayal than just finding out a game used AI." — Reddit r/VirtualYoutubers
""The game is genuinely fun and the gacha rates are great. But if studios are going to lie to creators and then quietly fix things after the backlash, that sets a terrible precedent." — NTE Community Discord
""What concerns me more than the AI use is the pattern: studio uses AI, denies it publicly, gets caught, issues a soft apology, moves on. If there's no real accountability, this just keeps happening." — Gamespot community
What This Means for the Industry
The NTE controversy arrives at a moment when generative AI in game development is becoming increasingly common. Voice actors, illustrators, and musicians have all raised concerns about AI encroaching on their livelihoods — and the games industry has yet to establish clear disclosure standards.
The incident demonstrates that audiences and creators are now actively scanning games for AI content, and that the cost of non-disclosure may outweigh the benefit of using AI-assisted tools without transparency.