Hyung-tae Kim, CEO of South Korean studio Shift Up and director of Stellar Blade, stated that generative AI is essential for competing with large Chinese teams in game development. Speaking at a national economic conference, Kim highlighted the disparity in team sizes and argued AI could enable one person to do the work of 100. The comments come as Shift Up develops a sequel to its successful 2024 action game.
On January 9, 2026, during South Korea's "2026 Economic Growth Strategy" conference attended by President Lee Jae Myung, Shift Up CEO Hyung-tae Kim addressed the challenges facing the country's gaming industry. Kim, who directed the 2024 sci-fi action title Stellar Blade, emphasized the need for AI tools to bridge the gap with competitors from China.
"We devote around 150 people to a single game, but China puts in between 1,000 to 2,000," Kim said, according to reports from GameMeca translated by Automaton. "We lack the capacity to compete, both in terms of quality and volume of content." He described generative AI and large language models as crucial for leveling the playing field, claiming that with AI, "one person can perform the work of 100 people."
Kim argued that AI adoption would not lead to mass layoffs, as global competition with powerhouses like China and the US would still demand full utilization of manpower, with workers becoming proficient in the technology. This stance reflects broader trends in South Korea's gaming sector, which is shifting from MMO-focused projects toward ambitious AAA titles amid rising Chinese influence, exemplified by successes like Black Myth: Wukong and upcoming games such as Where Winds Meet.
Stellar Blade, released in 2024 for PlayStation 5 and later PC, achieved millions in sales without AI assistance, boosting Shift Up's profile. The studio, with 300 employees, recently rewarded its team for a profitable 2025 with AirPods Max, Apple Watches, and $3,400 bonuses; last year, it gifted PS5 Pros and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. Shift Up aims to release Stellar Blade 2 before the end of 2027, though details on AI's role remain unclear.
The debate over AI in gaming continues, with varying industry responses, but Kim's comments underscore South Korea's strategic push for technological edge in global markets.
