Resident Evil Requiem producer Masato Kumzawa criticized Nvidia’s DLSS 5 technology, which artificializes character faces, and emphasized the importance of original designs.
The artificial intelligence-supported DLSS 5 face replacement technology, introduced by Nvidia in recent months, continues to cause great controversy and be a subject of ridicule in the gaming world.
In particular, the technology demo made for the new character of Resident Evil Requiem, Grace Ashcroft, attracted great reaction from the players on the grounds that it erased the character’s entire soul. Masato Kumzawa, the producer of the game, participated in these discussions and gave a very subtle but clear message to Nvidia.
Nvidia DLSS 5 Supported Surreal Faces Draw Reaction
Nvidia’s DLSS 5 technology promises to change the faces of game characters in real time, making them supposedly more “flawless”. However, the results became the talk of the internet, as they were compared to the cheap artificial intelligence beauty filters we often see on social media.
Players describe this technology as an innovation that is completely unrealistic, feels like an “uncanny valley” and is not requested by anyone. In a period where hardware prices are increasing, such artificial intelligence add-ons are seen as an unnecessary cost barrier in the gaming world.
Resident Evil Requiem character Grace Ashcroft, one of Nvidia’s promotional faces, lost all characteristic expressions on her face when processed with DLSS 5 and turned into an ordinary, lifeless and artificial model. This situation received intense criticism because it completely destroyed “emotion transfer”, one of the most important elements of a game in the horror genre.
The Power of Original Design: Support from the Producer to Fans
Producer Masato Kumzawa, who gave an interview to Eurogamer on the subject, avoided attacking Nvidia directly, but summarized the situation very well with his words. “Many players have expressed that they really liked Grace’s original design and did not want it to be changed,” Kumzawa said. he said The acceptance of Grace, who shares the leading role with the legendary character of the series, Leon Kennedy, is celebrated as a great victory on the Capcom front.
The producer continued: “This positive response from fans means we got the design right. The fact that Grace has quickly become a fan favorite and that people have such strong opinions about her design speaks to the quality of work we’ve achieved.”
Emotional Connection is Everything in Horror Games
The main reason why fans are so attached to Grace’s original version lies in the way the character reflects the horror she experienced throughout the game on her face. Kumzawa stated that Grace is extremely expressive in the face of this terrible experience she falls into, and said, “Players connect with her, they want her to get rid of this nightmare and be good. This emotional bond is very important, especially in a horror game.” he says.
These statements by Kumzawa bring to mind how technologies such as DLSS 5, which sacrifice facial expressions and emotional expressions on the character’s face for the sake of “artificial smoothness”, can shake the foundation of story-oriented games. It remains a big question mark how effective a Resident Evil experience in which we cannot see the character’s fear will be.
What do you think about Nvidia’s DLSS 5 artificial intelligence technology that changes character faces and these statements from the producer? Don’t forget to express your thoughts in the comments section below.