Developer Stage-5 has apologized for and defined its use of generative AI after followers noticed “AI slop” in footage of video games like Professor Layton and the Curious Village, DecaPolice, and extra.
Considerations emerged following the studio’s Nintendo Direct-style presentation earlier this week. Dubbed Level5 Imaginative and prescient 2026 II: Goals, the present got here with first seems to be at upcoming video games, and it additionally occurred to function what followers suspected to be a number of examples of genAI.
Those that tuned into the 50-minute presentation spent extra time speaking about what they believed was proof of AI use somewhat than the video games, such because the Professor Layton remake, Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Area, and DecaPolice. The footage inflicting a stir is generally restricted to background scenes, nevertheless it’s the truth that followers needed to query Stage-5 within the first place that is turned the state of affairs right into a full-fledged controversy for the Japan-based studio.
Oh no Stage-5 is DEFINATELY utilizing Gen AI to “replace” Professor Layton. Particularly once you examine the unique backgrounds to the brand new. So many bizarre particulars and inconsistencies have been added. https://t.co/AjVNfgetkk pic.twitter.com/0tRQ9vKn03
— AmericanYoshi (@AmericanYoshi) September 10, 2026
⁉️ Dans le nouveau trailer de Yo-kai Watch 2 : Haunted Area, Nathan a… changé de visage ?! 😭#YOKAIWATCH
Hier (gauche) / Aujourd’hui (droite) pic.twitter.com/Vr3rzwNPA7— Yo-net Watch (@YonetWatch) September 10, 2026
“I used to be SO excited when Stage-5 introduced their huge comeback with Professor Layton, Decapolice, Yo-Kai Watch, and extra,” one fan on X/Twitter mentioned. “However seeing this a lot blatant genAI getting used throughout their video games… yeah, this ain’t it”
“You have been a good looking studio,” one other fan mentioned. “Now you’re nothing greater than a disappointment to us. We don’t need this AI s**t.”
Stage-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino, who additionally hosted the showcase along with his personal animated avatar, took to X/Twitter to calm the noise. His message was each an apology and a proof, confirming that Stage-5 did, in actual fact, use generative AI for some facets of improvement.
Hino described Stage-5’s heavy use of AI as “experimentation with the newest know-how,” including that the crew “sincerely apologizes to anybody who discovered this off-putting.”
I used to be enthusiastic about Decapolice however Stage-5 AI use is disgusting to me. I can not help that. https://t.co/EpxgBtCnDo
— Kabi (@KabiPlays) September 10, 2026
“Nevertheless, please be assured that each one parts defining the enchantment and individuality of our launched titles— such because the situation, character designs, and foundational settings — are created totally by human fingers,” Hino mentioned (by way of Google translate). “We make the most of AI primarily to streamline the method of digitizing human-created property; as an illustration, precisely changing authentic paintings into 3D polygon fashions. You may relaxation assured that the video games we launch don’t comprise content material merely generated by AI.”
Hino additionally defended how Stage-5 has used AI to date, saying: “the time saved via AI-driven efficiencies has allowed our creators to dedicate extra of their efforts to the true essence of creativity.” For him and the remainder of the crew, the assumption is that the completed variations of video games like Professor Layton and the Curious Village will nonetheless please followers in the long run. A part of the rationale it leaned so closely on genAI this time round was so it may shrink “the event cycle for main titles from the present 5 years down to 2.”
“That mentioned, we can’t deny that we made intensive use of AI this time, pushed by a need to ship a presentation that was visually putting and simple to know,” he continued. “We are going to take this expertise as a studying alternative for the long run, so please look ahead to Stage-5’s subsequent presentation.”
pic.twitter.com/cict4COGTP
— ⬡ Nectur Bee ⬢ (@NecturBee) September 12, 2026
It is a proof that hasn’t gone over nicely within the Stage-5 neighborhood. Replies to the publish embrace followers nonetheless involved about generative know-how getting used throughout improvement in any respect, fearing that affected video games shall be without end tarnished.
“Generative AI is skilled on the stolen works of numerous artists by tech corporations to revenue off their work, with the intent of changing artists,” one common reply mentioned. “Through the use of it you changed artists. You are profiting off of the ability of artists whose work has been stolen to energy this software program.”
“I imagine the human coronary heart issues greater than pace to market; certainly it’s higher to take 5 years with out utilizing AI,” one other publish written in Japanese mentioned (by way of Google Translate). “If even a single asset is created utilizing AI, the nagging fear — ‘Is that this picture, piece of music, or line of dialogue made by AI or a human?’ — would by no means go away. Is not preserving that belief a very powerful factor?”
Hino did not supply a selected sport plan on the subject of how Stage-5 will tweak its improvement plans going ahead. For now, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, a remake of the unique 2007 sport, is slated to return to PC and consoles in 2027. One other new sport within the collection, the New World of Steam, is due out this December.