Shadow Empire

Usage of AI-Generated and Assisted Illustrations in Shadow Empire Post-release Illustration Creation Process The developers use Midjourney and Nano Banana to generate high-resolution illustrations for new functionality added post-release, particularly for Vidcom and Stratagem artwork. These images are often post-processed by hand, as well as enhanced using tools like Magnific, Topaz Labs, or other upscaling and refinement software. AI in Post-release Portrait Art Portraits: A base image is generated using Midjourney with a generic prompt such as “portrait of young woman, military.” Smaller parts (eyes, nose, mouth, hair, etc.) are overlaid using DALL·E to create variations. Aging effects are achieved by rendering an older skin texture with partial transparency over the younger base face. The older the character, the more opaque the overlay becomes. (Note: Eyes and lips often retain a youthful appearance.) This effect is gradually applied using a limited number of sprite layers, allowing nuanced visual transitions. AI-Generated Art in Post-release Game Content The game includes AI-generated and AI-assisted illustrations for Vidcoms and Stratagems. All such AI-generated art is pre-generated — no generative AI tools are called or used in real-time by the game itself. The intention is to provide players with an option to toggle between the original and updated AI-enhanced graphics via preferences. (Note: This is an aim and may not yet apply to all content.)