Koshi Nakanishi, director of Resident Evil Requiem, views the fan outcry over Nvidia's AI-generated makeover of protagonist Grace Ashcroft as a sign that the team nailed her original design. Fans ridiculed the DLSS 5 alterations that added heavy makeup and altered her features. Nakanishi called the strong reactions positive in a recent interview.
Resident Evil Requiem launched in February 2026, quickly winning fans over with protagonist Grace Ashcroft. A few weeks later, Nvidia showcased its DLSS 5 technology in March, using generative AI to give photorealistic makeovers to game characters including Grace and Leon S. Kennedy. The changes to Grace—plumping her lips and applying heavy makeup—sparked widespread derision, with fans decrying the 'yassified' look that deviated from her distinctive original design. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang responded by calling some accusations 'completely wrong.'In an interview with Eurogamer, game director Koshi Nakanishi and producer Masato Kumazawa addressed the controversy. Nakanishi expressed gladness over fans' attachment to Grace, noting her emotional expressiveness and relatability make players root for her amid intense horror. On the DLSS 5 backlash, he said it was positive that 'a lot of players commented they really liked the original design of Grace and didn't want to see it changed... It meant we got the design right.'Nakanishi highlighted how the strong opinions affirm Grace's status as a fan favorite shortly after launch. He avoided specifics on the team's involvement with Nvidia's demo but saw the furore as validation of their work.
