Level-5 CEO defends AI use after Yo-kai Watch and Professor Layton backlash

Level-5’s CEO has addressed the backlash over Yo-kai Watch and Professor Layton using AI, claiming it helped the studio create “more satisfying” games.

Following the September 9 Nintendo Direct reveal, Level-5 held its own presentation that gave fans a closer look into the developer's upcoming releases. 

During the showcase, the devs showed off trailers for Yo-kai Watch 2, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Decapolice, and more. 

However, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has now apologized after fans called out the presentation’s overuse of AI, claiming that they primarily use it to streamline the process of digitizing human-created work. 

Level-5 addresses AI Yo-kai Watch & Layton backlash 

“We used AI in some of the footage shown during the event, which appears to have raised concerns about the content of our games,” wrote Hino via X.

“We incorporated some experimental processes using the latest AI technology simply because we wanted to make the presentation more visually impressive. We understand that this made some viewers uncomfortable, and we sincerely apologize.”

The CEO then went on to explain that all of Level-5’s games, stories, characters, designs, and core settings are created by real human beings. He then revealed that the devs use AI to “streamline” the development process. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/z9nITMlt8Fk?si=JzrsJ_N4eZarVVZy

“We primarily use AI to streamline the process of digitizing human-created work, such as accurately converting original artwork into polygonal models. Please be assured that our released games do not contain carelessly generated AI output,” Hino continued. 

“In fact, the time saved through AI-driven efficiencies allows our creators to spend more time on the heart of the creative process. We believe this has helped us produce finished games that players will find more satisfying than ever.”

The studio said it aims to use AI to cut the development cycle of major releases from five to two years, and that they are still experimenting with the new technology. 

https://twitter.com/AkihiroHino/status/2098650784934338645?s=20

Despite this, Hino says Level-5 has heard fans’ anger over the heavy use of AI in its September 10 presentation and will take fans’ feelings into account for future showcases. 

“We cannot deny that AI was used extensively on this occasion because we wanted to create a clear and visually striking presentation. We will learn from this and apply those lessons going forward. We hope you will look forward to Level-5’s next presentation.”

This isn’t the first time the Yo-kai Watch studio has been under fire this year, as the gaming community criticised them for their anti-piracy message, after players argued the studio itself has made several titles impossible to legally buy overseas.