Following viewer backlash over the use of artificial intelligence during the LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II showcase, LEVEL-5 CEO and President Akihiro Hino took to social media to address fan concerns and clarify the studio’s stance on AI technology in game development.
The controversy arose after fans noticed AI-generated elements in promotional footage during the digital broadcast, raising questions about the creative direction of the studio’s upcoming games. Viewers pointed out noticeable AI-assisted artwork and artifacts in trailers for major upcoming titles, including Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Decapolice, and Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. Responding directly to the criticism, Hino admitted that the studio used AI tools to enhance the visual flair of the broadcast.
“This time, because we used AI for the footage within the event, it seems that concerns have arisen regarding the content of the works as well, so I would like to provide an explanation,” Hino wrote. “It was entirely due to the desire to make the presentation more spectacular that we incorporated processing that also served as an experiment using the latest AI. It appears that some people felt uncomfortable about this, so I deeply apologize.”
Hino reassured fans that core creative decisions remain firmly in human hands. He clarified that scenarios, character designs, and fundamental settings for all titles are entirely created by human developers. Within LEVEL-5’s pipeline, AI tools are strictly utilized to streamline tedious technical processes rather than generating raw assets for commercial release. He emphasized that no simplistic AI-generated output data will be included in the final games.
Furthermore, Hino explained technical automation allows developers to dedicate more attention to the core elements of game design, ultimately raising the quality of the final product. LEVEL-5 is currently undergoing a period of trial and error as part of an ambitious push to reduce major title development cycles from five years down to two.
