The First Descendant Faces Backlash Over AI TikTok Ads Imitating Real Creators

The First Descendant (Credit: Nexon)

The First Descendant developer Nexon has landed in hot water after a series of AI-generated TikTok ads surfaced, with at least one allegedly copying the likeness of a real content creator.

The whole thing started when Reddit user u/iHardlyTriHard decided to scroll through their TikTok feed and, in just 15 minutes, came across multiple ads for The First Descendant. Four of them were clearly AI-made, while a couple more looked “low effort” but weren’t outright AI.

One ad looked strikingly similar to streamer DanieltheDemon — and no one knows if he ever agreed to it.

Fans haven’t taken kindly to the discovery. Many pointed out that Nexon already has the Nexon Creators program, which boasts more than 8,800 signed-up members, yet they’re still pushing “AI streamers” instead of actual community voices. As the original poster put it, “It’s really a kick in the teeth to TFD content creators.” Other players added that if they saw these ads before touching the game, they would’ve assumed it was “a scam or a phishing attempt.”

To make matters worse, some players claim that TikTok comments criticizing the ads are being deleted.

The ads themselves aren’t exactly hard to spot as AI. Viewers described the usual giveaways: off-sync lips, robotic voiceovers, and weirdly stiff delivery. One even declared The First Descendant to be “the world’s most popular shooter RPG” — a bold claim, ah.

Nexon Responded

In response to the growing criticism, Nexon issued a statement clarifying that these ads were part of a broader marketing effort tied to Season 3: Breakthrough. The company explained that they had launched a TikTok Creative Challenge program, allowing creators to "voluntarily" submit videos for advertising use. Nexon emphasized that TikTok’s system verifies content for copyright violations before approval.

However, the developer admitted that some videos may have slipped through without proper oversight. “We have become aware of cases where the circumstances surrounding the production of certain submitted videos appear inappropriate. Thus, we are conducting a thorough joint investigation with TikTok to determine the facts,” Nexon stated. They also apologized for the delay in communication, promising an official update once the review concludes.

For now, the controversy highlights the growing tension between AI marketing and real creators. Fans argue that The First Descendant, already trying to build its reputation in the crowded looter-shooter space, could risk damaging its image further by leaning on AI ads instead of supporting its own community of streamers.