In the wake of fierce online backlash, Professor Layton developer Level-5 has released a new statement apologizing for the mistrust caused by generative AI use in its recent showcase for upcoming titles, insisting some examples spotted by fans were simply human error.<\/p>\n
Not only that, but the studio has insisted that some mistakes flagged as AI errors by eagle-eyed commenters on social media were actually human mistakes. The Japanese studio has now vowed to clean up these offending portions.<\/p>\n
For those who missed it, Level-5 released its \u201cVISION 2026 II: Dreams\u201d presentation on YouTube on September 10. Narrated by a cartoon version of CEO Akihiro Hino, the showcase walked viewers through the studio\u2019s upcoming releases, including Yokai Watch 2: Haunted Domain, Decapolice, and a first look at Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.<\/p>\n
However, shortly after the video dropped, social media was flooded with comments and reaction videos. Commenters scrutinized backgrounds and art, noting inconsistencies and elements suggestive of generative AI use, with many slamming Level-5 for perceived \u201cAI slop.\u201d Comparisons between the September 9 Nintendo Direct Yokai Watch 2 trailer and the VISION 2026 trailer for the same game released just a day later also had fans pointing out AI-like errors. The Nintendo Direct trailer for Professor Layton and the Curious Village (a Switch remake of the Nintendo DS original), also had internet sleuths finding elements that appeared to be AI upscales of original backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\nOh no Level-5 is DEFINATELY using Gen AI to “update” Professor Layton. Especially when you compare the original backgrounds to the new. So many weird details and inconsistencies were added. https:\/\/t.co\/AjVNfgetkk pic.twitter.com\/0tRQ9vKn03<\/p>\n
\u2014 AmericanYoshi (@AmericanYoshi) September 10, 2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This backlash prompted CEO Hino to make a statement on X, admitting that the developer had experimented with using AI processing techniques for the VISION 2026 II showcase out of a \u201cdesire to make the presentation flashy.” After apologizing for the offense that this caused, Hino insisted that key elements of Level-5’s games (such as story, character designs and settings) were created by people and that AI tools were used to speed up the process of digitizing artists\u2019 creations. \u201cPlease be reassured that there is no simplistic, AI-generated data in our released games,\u201d Hino commented, before noting that the company\u2019s use of AI tools to make processes more efficient was giving its developers more time to be creative, and that they are currently in a trail-and-error process of shortening the 5-year development cycle for major titles down to two years.<\/p>\n
Hino\u2019s statement went down like a lead balloon, however. The CEO\u2019s comments about \u201cusing AI in various ways\u201d to enhance the visual appearance of the showcase drew particular ire, with many Japanese users seeing this as a lazy \u2018style over substance\u2019 approach. \u201cIsn\u2019t the point of a trailer to express creativity, not flashiness?\u201d one person said.<\/p>\n
Many commenters in both Japanese and English also pointed out the ethical issues with how generative AI has been trained on copyrighted works of artists, and how Level-5\u2019s attitude towards gen AI creates distrust among fans. \u201cI think human spirit is more important than the speed of game releases, so wouldn\u2019t it be better to not use AI, even if it takes five years? Even if just one asset is AI-generated, people will never stop worrying about whether a song, image or line of dialogue is AI or human-made. Isn\u2019t maintaining trust the most important thing?\u201d another commenter responded in Japanese. As a side note, Level-5\u2019s concept image for its TGS booth also got flagged as a suspected AI image, prompting further angry comments.<\/p>\n
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\nProfessor Layton and the New World of Steam Level 5 Vision Trailer Stills<\/h3>\n