Nintendo has disputed accusations it used AI-generated images to create billboards in Mario Kart World.
Rumors began to swirl when a Nintendo Treehouse livestream gave us a closer peek at the upcoming racer a few weeks back. Eagle-eyed fans pointed out that a handful of in-game advertising boards looked a little strange, with images of a construction site, a bridge, and a peculiarly tall car all raising eyebrows.
Of course, many pre-release titles include placeholder graphics that won’t be included in the final product, but Nintendo refuted claims that anything, even in its pre-release game, was AI-generated, saying in a statement to Eurogamer: “AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World.”
Generative AI is one of the hottest topics in the creative industries right now and a burning issue within video game development itself. Apart from ethical and copyright issues, labor unions have expressed concern about the potential for generative AI to replace jobs, and video game performers have called for increased protections against its use.
In September last year, Nintendo developer legend Shigeru Miyamoto said the company would rather go in a “different direction” than the rest of the video game industry when it comes to AI. For example, EA CEO Andrew Wilson has said AI is “the very core of our business” — a comment IGN subsequently explored in more detail. But according to Miyamoto, Nintendo has a different outlook.
In an interview with The New York Times, Miyamoto brought up AI himself as an example of something where Nintendo would rather do things differently than its peers.
“It might seem like we are just going the opposite direction for the sake of going in the opposite direction, but it really is trying to find what makes Nintendo special,” Miyamoto said.
“There is a lot of talk about A.I., for example,” he continued. “When that happens, everyone starts to go in the same direction, but that is where Nintendo would rather go in a different direction.”
Miyamoto’s comments followed those made by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa in July, who said generative AI can be used “in creative ways,” but its use “also raise issues with intellectual property rights.”
“We have decades of know-how in creating the best gaming experiences for our players,” Furukawa added. “While we are open to utilizing technological developments, we will work to continue delivering value that is unique to Nintendo and cannot be created by technology alone.”
The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 — for which Mario Kart World is a console exclusive — is set to debut on June 5. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders went live on April 24, with the price still fixed at $449.99 — and they went about as well as you’d expect. Check out IGN’s Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide for more.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
