Nintendo Denies Use of Generative AI in Game Development

While the gaming industry explores the potential of generative AI, Nintendo remains hesitant due to concerns over IP rights and the company's preference for its unique approach to game development.

Nintendo President Says It Won't Integrate AI in Nintendo GamesExpressed Concerns Over IP Rights and Copyright Infringement

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that the company currently has no plans to incorporate cutting-edge AI in its games, primarily due to concerns over intellectual property (IP) rights. This statement came during a recent Q&A session with investors, where Furukawa discussed the correlation between AI and game development.

Furukawa acknowledged that AI has always played a vital role in game development, particularly in controlling non-playable characters' (NPC) behavior. The term artificial intelligence, "AI," is now more commonly associated with advanced AI which can create and regenerate customized and tailor-made content such as text, images, videos, or other data through pattern-learning.

Generative AI has gained significant prominence in different industries in recent years. "In the game industry, AI-like technologies have long been used to control non-player character movements, so game development and AI have gone hand-in-hand even before," Furukawa explained.

Despite recognizing the enormous potential of generative AI, Furukawa noted the challenges it poses, particularly regarding IP rights. "It is possible to produce more original outputs using generative AI, but we are also aware that problems can arise with intellectual property rights," he said. This concern may stem from the fact that generative AI tools can be used to infringe on existing works and copyright.

Believes in That Distinctive Nintendo Flair

Furukawa stressed that Nintendo's approach to game development is based on years of experience and a dedication to delivering exceptional gaming experiences. "We have years of expertise in crafting optimal game experiences for our customers.," he stated during the Q&A. "While we are flexible in responding to technological developments, we hope to continue to deliver value that is unique to us and cannot be created through technology alone,"

Nintendo's stance differs from that of other gaming titans. Earlier this year, Ubisoft introduced Project Neural Nexus NEO NPCs, which employs generative AI to simulate in-game conversations and interactions with NPCs. Project producer Xavier Manzanares emphasized that generative AI is simply a tool. "Something we bear in mind is every novel tech that's on our table cannot create games autonomously," said Manzanares. "GenAI is a tool, it is tech. It does not create games, it must be integrated with design and a team that truly seeks to advance with that tech."

Likewise, Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu perceives generative AI as a commercial opportunity to generate novel content using cutting-edge technologies. Electronic Arts (EA) has also embraced generative AI, with CEO Andrew Wilson projecting that more than half of EA's development processes will reap benefits from advancements in generative AI.