Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa clarified why the business won't be using generative AI to make its first-party games at a recent Q&A with investors. This is due to two main factors: first, Nintendo creates games using more than simply technology, and second, generative AI may have problems with intellectual property rights.
The Q&A session, which Tweaktown translated, demonstrates Nintendo's perspective on generative AI and its use in the video game business. Furukawa skillfully described how Nintendo has been creating games for many years using creative processes and technology in harmony and won't be relying on generative AI to speed up part of that process, while other businesses believe there are more benefits to using the technology to streamline game development.
Great games aren't created only by using technology.
In this investor Q&A, Furukawa was questioned about the use of generative AI. His answer was clear-cut yet respectful. Game development and AI technology have always been tightly associated since AI-like technology has long been employed in the gaming industry to govern enemy character motions. Though we acknowledge that generative AI has concerns with intellectual property rights, it can be more creative. Generative AI has been a prominent subject in recent years. Our goal is to continue providing value that is exclusive to us and cannot be attained via technology alone. We have decades of expertise designing the best possible gaming experiences for our clients, and we will always be adaptable in our response to technical advancements.
As the aforementioned comment makes clear, Nintendo is worried that generative AI may breach intellectual property rights as these systems are incapable of determining if they are infringing. Furukawa also emphasizes the significance of Nintendo's game portfolio and the creative process that goes beyond technology in game production.
AI has become a fashionable term among investors and IT businesses. Since 2023, well-known brands like Xbox have been highlighting its significance. Fans are happy that at least one well-known gaming company isn't going to follow suit in reaction to this news about Nintendo.
Reddit user Top_Ok encapsulates the majority of opinions on this topic rather well. "Always recognize that they prioritize the long-term health of the company and don't tend to try and chase current trends, unlike a lot of other companies." At least for the time being, it seems like Nintendo fans are happy that titles like AI-generated material won't be included in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond content.