Level-5 CEO apologises for undisclosed AI in shows

Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino has confirmed generative AI was used in the studio's recent digital shows. He has apologised after fans expressed discomfort over the undisclosed use of the technology.

Hino stated the AI was incorporated to make the presentation footage "more spectacular" and served as an experiment. "It appears that some people felt uncomfortable about this, so I deeply apologise," he said on X/Twitter, as translated by machine. The confirmation came after fans on social media quickly called out suspected AI use following the shows's debut last week.

Fan backlash and CEO's explanation

One fan on X/Twitter wrote, "I was SO excited when Level-5 announced their big comeback with Professor Layton, Decapolice, Yo-Kai Watch, and more." In response to the criticism, Hino provided an explanation, acknowledging concerns had arisen about the content of the games themselves.

He insisted the core creative elements remain human-made. "However, at our company, the parts that relate to the charm and individuality of the released works - such as scenarios, character designs, and basic settings - are all created by human hands," Hino stated.

Scope of AI use and future plans

The CEO clarified the company's intended use for AI is focused on efficiency in production pipelines, not creative generation. He cited the accurate conversion of original artwork into polygons as an example. "Please rest assured that no simplistic AI-generated output data is included in the games that are released," Hino said.

He also framed the shows usage as part of "trial and error" in the studio's broader goal to reduce development cycles from five years down to two. Hino admitted the desire for a flashy presentation led to AI being used "in a wide variety of ways" for the event. He pledged to learn from the incident for future presentations.

Industry context

Level-5 is among many game companies investing in AI technology. Other studios like Krafton, Square Enix, and EA have also made significant investments in the field. The incident highlights ongoing industry experimentation and the sensitive reaction from portions of the gaming community regarding AI's role in game presentation and development.

The shows featured upcoming titles including a Professor Layton and the Curious Village remake, Decapolice, and new Yo-Kai Watch games. These titles are planned for platforms including Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PS5.