{
  "id": 6950987,
  "title": "Level-5 Boss Addresses AI Backlash After Fans Hit Out at Game Reveal Showcase",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/level-5-boss-addresses-ai-backlash-after-fans-hit-out-at-game-reveal",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-12T16:25:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/level-5-boss-addresses-ai-backlash-after-fans-hit-out-at-game-reveal-showcase"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Developer Level-5 has apologized for and explained its use of generative AI after fans spotted 'AI slop' in footage of games like Professor Layton and the Curious Village, DecaPolice, and more.",
  "key_points": [
    "Level-5 faced backlash over alleged AI use in game reveal showcase.",
    "President Akihiro Hino apologized and clarified AI use for digitization.",
    "Fans concerned about AI impact on game quality and development."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}