NCSoft’s AION 2 is currently under fire for allegedly serving as a platform for deepfake-style content featuring real people. By combining the game's character customisation marketplace with a highly permissive outfit customisation system, the title has become a breeding ground for the sexual objectification of real-world figures. Despite the clear legal risks regarding defamation and the creation of non-consensual sexual content, NCSoft remains conspicuously hands-off.

AION 2 features a system that allows users to monetise and share their character appearance data. While most users share aesthetically pleasing designs, a significant number are based on real-life celebrities. In the AION 2 Style Shop, where these data sets are traded, it is alarmingly easy to find characters explicitly named after real-life idol group members.

The real issue here isn't just the unauthorised replication of someone’s likeness; it’s the combination of these models with the game's revealing outfits. Because the game provides a dye system that allows players to change costume colours to mimic skin tones, users can create 'see-through' effects. Consequently, some players are dressing these celebrity-lookalike characters in revealing maid outfits or sheer costumes, then posting screenshots that highlight specific body parts.

This is a case of advanced graphics and deep customisation tools having perverse unintended consequences. By exploiting the dye system to create optical illusions, users are effectively mass-producing sexual content targeting real people within a virtual space. It is particularly disturbing that this trend does not exclude underage idol group members, necessitating a much closer look at how these tools are being utilised.

Creating or modelling a likeness without consent to cause sexual humiliation is fundamentally no different from deepfake sexual exploitation. Even though players are using the tools provided by NCSoft, using them to target real-world individuals for sexualised imagery is a clear violation of personality rights and defamation. While NCSoft has held multiple broadcasts regarding system improvements, their total silence on this specific issue suggests they are, at best, looking the other way.

This isn't an isolated incident in the industry. Krafton’s PUBG: Battlegrounds once faced similar backlash when players used 'NewJeans' collaboration items—which were intended for a fun event—to subject the models to inappropriate behaviour. Facing immense criticism, Krafton eventually had to ban the usage of those items and issue refunds. While NCSoft isn't selling these celebrity models directly, they are still taking a cut from the transaction fees on the character data marketplace, which makes it hard for them to claim they are entirely free of blame.

An NCSoft representative responded to the matter by stating, "We operate our service in full compliance with all relevant regulations and the rating system, as this is an adult-only title that prohibits access to minors."