Smilegate Studio published a notice on its website explaining that the images of the female protagonists in the Lost Ark class known as the “Artist” will be softened to align with Western standards. The developers outlined the changes as a move to fit broader Western audience expectations while keeping the core character visuals intact. The plan centers on adjusting certain wardrobe elements rather than altering the core design of the characters.
In the updated version of the game, 3D models of the artists wearing short skirts will be updated to include shorts and tights. The creators emphasized that these changes are made in a way that minimizes any disruption to the original character depictions. No alterations to gameplay are planned for the Artist class, and some skins will be revised to better reflect Western norms while preserving the essence of the heroes.
Interestingly, the new character visuals will be implemented only in the Western release of the game. The Asian and Russian versions will retain the existing visual style of the characters, according to the development team.
The Artist class was added to Lost Ark in April 2022, after Smilegate faced criticism over the former open armor designs, which the company had dated March 8 of that year. Lost Ark is a South Korean-developed online MMORPG with a large and active player base. The game has attracted a global audience, including millions of users across the Americas and other regions.
The article also references past discussions on adjusting female character models in popular titles, noting debates over how games portray female armor and anatomy in relation to audience expectations and regional standards.