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.
Concerns emerged following the studio's Nintendo Direct-style presentation earlier this week. Dubbed Level5 Vision 2026 II: Dreams, the show came with first looks at upcoming games, and it also happened to feature what fans suspected to be multiple examples of genAI.
Those who tuned into the 50-minute presentation spent more time talking about what they believed was evidence of AI use rather than the games, such as the Professor Layton remake, Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain, and DecaPolice. The footage causing a stir is mostly limited to background scenes, but it's the fact that fans had to question Level-5 in the first place that's turned the situation into a full-fledged controversy for the Japan-based studio.
Oh no Level-5 is DEFINATELY using Gen AI to "update" Professor Layton. Especially when you compare the original backgrounds to the new. So many weird details and inconsistencies were added. https://t.co/AjVNfgetkk pic.twitter.com/0tRQ9vKn03
⁉️ Dans le nouveau trailer de Yo-kai Watch 2 : Haunted Domain, Nathan a… changé de visage ?! 😭#YOKAIWATCHHier (gauche) / Aujourd’hui (droite) pic.twitter.com/Vr3rzwNPA7
"I was SO excited when Level-5 announced their big comeback with Professor Layton, Decapolice, Yo-Kai Watch, and more," one fan on X/Twitter said. "But seeing this much blatant genAI being used across their games… yeah, this ain’t it"
"You were a beautiful studio," another fan said. "Now you are nothing more than a disappointment to us. We don’t want this AI s**t."
Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino, who also hosted the showcase with his own animated avatar, took to X/Twitter to calm the noise. His message was both an apology and an explanation, confirming that Level-5 did, in fact, use generative AI for some aspects of development.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.ign.com/articles/level-5-boss-addresses-ai-backlash-after-fans-hit-out-at-game-reveal-showcase
