Within the wake of fierce on-line backlash, Professor Layton developer Level-5 has launched a new statement apologizing for the distrust brought about by generative AI use in its latest showcase for upcoming titles, insisting some examples noticed by followers have been merely human error.
Not solely that, however the studio has insisted that some errors flagged as AI errors by eagle-eyed commenters on social media have been really human errors. The Japanese studio has now vowed to clear up these offending parts.
For many who missed it, Level-5 launched its “VISION 2026 II: Desires” presentation on YouTube on September 10. Narrated by a cartoon model of CEO Akihiro Hino, the showcase walked viewers by means of the studio’s upcoming releases, together with Yokai Watch 2: Haunted Area, Decapolice, and a primary take a look at Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.
Nonetheless, shortly after the video dropped, social media was flooded with feedback and response movies. Commenters scrutinized backgrounds and artwork, noting inconsistencies and parts suggestive of generative AI use, with many slamming Level-5 for perceived “AI slop.” Comparisons between the September 9 Nintendo Direct Yokai Watch 2 trailer and the VISION 2026 trailer for a similar recreation launched only a day later additionally had followers declaring AI-like errors. The Nintendo Direct trailer for Professor Layton and the Curious Village (a Swap remake of the Nintendo DS authentic), additionally had web sleuths discovering parts that appeared to be AI upscales of authentic backgrounds.
Oh no Level-5 is DEFINATELY utilizing Gen AI to “replace” Professor Layton. Particularly whenever you evaluate the unique backgrounds to the brand new. So many bizarre particulars and inconsistencies have been added. https://t.co/AjVNfgetkk pic.twitter.com/0tRQ9vKn03
— AmericanYoshi (@AmericanYoshi) September 10, 2026
This backlash prompted CEO Hino to make a statement on X, admitting that the developer had experimented with utilizing AI processing strategies for the VISION 2026 II showcase out of a “need to make the presentation flashy.” After apologizing for the offense that this brought about, Hino insisted that key parts of Level-5’s video games (such as story, character designs and settings) have been created by individuals and that AI instruments have been used to velocity up the method of digitizing artists’ creations. “Please be reassured that there isn’t a simplistic, AI-generated information in our launched video games,” Hino commented, earlier than noting that the corporate’s use of AI instruments to make processes extra environment friendly was giving its builders extra time to be artistic, and that they’re presently in a trail-and-error means of shortening the 5-year improvement cycle for main titles down to two years.
Hino’s assertion went down like a lead balloon, nevertheless. The CEO’s feedback about “utilizing AI in numerous methods” to improve the visible look of the showcase drew specific ire, with many Japanese users seeing this as a lazy ‘fashion over substance’ method. “Isn’t the purpose of a trailer to specific creativity, not flashiness?” one individual stated.
Many commenters in each Japanese and English additionally identified the moral points with how generative AI has been skilled on copyrighted works of artists, and the way Level-5’s perspective in direction of gen AI creates mistrust amongst followers. “I feel human spirit is extra vital than the velocity of recreation releases, so wouldn’t it’s higher to not use AI, even when it takes 5 years? Even when only one asset is AI-generated, individuals won’t ever cease worrying about whether or not a track, picture or line of dialogue is AI or human-made. Isn’t sustaining belief an important factor?” one other commenter responded in Japanese. As a aspect observe, Level-5’s idea picture for its TGS sales space additionally got flagged as a suspected AI picture, prompting additional offended feedback.
In its latest statement issued on September 17, Level-5 stated: “We deeply apologize for the mistrust in our manufacturing course of that our inexperienced use of AI and easy human errors have brought about. Please observe that AI has not been used immediately within the contents of the video games themselves. Shifting ahead, we can pay even better consideration to the accuracy and high quality of the work we produce.”
Level-5 additionally stated that it’s going to clear up “errors brought about by AI use, as nicely as human errors that seem like AI errors,” and add corrected variations of the trailers to coincide with Tokyo Sport Present, which opens to the general public this weekend. On the time of writing, Level-5 has uploaded TGS variations of trailers for Decapolice and Holy Horror Mansion to its official YouTube channel.
In its September 17 assertion, Level-5 revealed a side-by-side of Yokai Watch 2’s promotional illustration earlier than and after errors had been edited out. Addressing feedback made by customers relating to the phone strains trying “unnatural,” the corporate acknowledged that its artist had used an actual photograph of phone strains they’d taken themselves as a reference, and deliberately simplified the strains to match the background, which resulted on this “being misconstrued as AI.” “These phone strains have been really hand-drawn by our in-house designer, nevertheless, to stop any additional misunderstandings, we have now corrected them in order that they appear extra pure,” Level-5 stated.
However what about different particulars flagged by commenters as doable indicators of gen AI utilization? Level-5 stated that, “Equally, different points that individuals identified, such as with the merchandising machine and guttering, have been additionally the results of human error in omitting these particulars. The brake levers on the bicycle weren’t drawn in previous Yokai Watch 2 video games. Nonetheless, we really feel they need to have been drawn for this newest recreation, contemplating the upper degree of element.”
⁉️ Dans le nouveau trailer de Yo-kai Watch 2 : Haunted Area, Nathan a… changé de visage ?! 😭#YOKAIWATCH
Hier (gauche) / Aujourd’hui (droite) pic.twitter.com/Vr3rzwNPA7— Yo-net Watch (@YonetWatch) September 10, 2026
Many commenters additionally picked up on how Kenta/Nathan’s face appears to be like totally different within the Level-5’s VISION 2026 II showcase and the Nintendo Direct that was launched on the day gone by. In response, Level-5 stated, “We didn’t make any alterations or corrections utilizing AI.” It stated it was unable to right Nathan’s low-poly look in time for Nintendo Direct’s submission deadline however had up to date the mannequin by the time of its personal showcase, which explains why Nathan appears to be like totally different in trailers that have been made public simply sooner or later aside. Level-5 additionally acknowledged that “no AI was utilized in Professor Layton and the New World of Steam,” nevertheless it didn’t touch upon whether or not or not AI was used for the Curious Village remake.
Level-5 wrapped up its assertion by apologizing once more for the mistrust brought about by its “inexperienced use of AI and human error,” promising to take extra care sooner or later to keep away from such errors. “Any more, we’ll restrict our AI utilization to enhancing effectivity, and can keep away from immediately utilizing it in movies launched immediately to our followers.”
This assertion additionally didn’t go down nicely. “I don’t assume they perceive WHY utilizing AI is dangerous. We weren’t mad on the little errors that AI produced, we simply used these errors to decide if it was AI or not, as a result of utilizing AI in any respect is dangerous. Now they’re going to proceed utilizing AI however they’re going to cover it higher,” one commenter responded.
It isn’t about decreasing using AI, however about eliminating it completely. pic.twitter.com/ziJuMrxBsm
— Turo (@Any_Turo) September 16, 2026
Many Japanese feedback additionally criticized the Level-5 assertion for blaming human error. “You promised not to use gen AI going ahead, however aren’t you simply shifting the blame onto the employees?” replied one commenter. “I feel the principle purpose for all this criticism is President Hino’s stance of repeatedly selling generative AI utilization with out confronting its basic points (such as unauthorized use of information and environmental air pollution).”
Level-5 has been experimenting with gen AI instruments to velocity up recreation improvement and enhance effectivity for not less than the final three years. Again in December 2023, the studio launched an in depth presentation on its use of AI instruments to a Japanese authorities examine group (supply: Automaton/ITMedia). In brief, it has been utilizing Steady Diffusion to generate structure concepts for promotions, and to create 3D variations of the unique 2D fashions from older video games, like its Yokai Watch collection. Nonetheless, the corporate identified then that these generative AI outputs have been simply used as tips for its human artists, who produced the ultimate output. In the identical presentation, it described combining components of AI-generated pictures with creations by its artists to make the in-game backgrounds (together with stadium crowds and buildings) for soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven: Victory Street.
Nonetheless, it stays to be seen how a lot the studio’s perspective in direction of AI utilization prices it when it comes to gamers’ belief within the firm.
Verity Townsend
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance author who beforehand served as editor, contributor and translator for the sport information web site Automaton West. She has additionally written about Japanese tradition and flicks for numerous publications.