Level-5 Boss Addresses AI Backlash After Fans Hit Out at Game Reveal Showcase

Level-5, the developer behind Professor Layton, DecaPolice, and Yo-Kai Watch, has come under fire after footage from its recent Nintendo Direct-style showcase showed what fans believed was evidence of generative AI being used in the games. The 50-minute presentation, dubbed Level-5 Vision 2026 II: Dreams, featured first looks at upcoming titles and included what many suspected to be examples of AI-generated content.

The studio's president and CEO, Akihiro Hino, addressed the backlash by apologizing and explaining that Level-5 had indeed used generative AI for some aspects of development. He clarified that the human elements defining the appeal of their games, such as scenarios, character designs, and settings, were created by humans. Hino defended the use of AI, stating that it helped streamline the digitization process for artwork and allowed creators to focus more on the core creativity.

However, the apology did not sit well with fans, who expressed concerns about the use of AI in game development and the potential impact on the quality of the games.