Level-5 apologized for using generative AI in upcoming games like Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch after fans spotted AI artifacts in presentation footage. CEO Akihiro Hino defended the practice as experimentation to streamline development, claiming core creative elements remain human-made, but fans remain skeptical and disappointed.
Level-5 fans are concerned the studio is using AI in its games following a September 2026 presentation showcasing Professor Layton remakes and new titles. Multiple games including Yo-kai Watch 2, Inazuma Eleven: Bold Revolution, and DecaPolice face accusations of featuring AI-generated art and animations, with CEO Akihiro Hino having previously stated that 80-90% of game code is now AI-written and the studio admitted to using ChatGPT for character designs in past projects.