Level-5 is back at the center of the gaming industry's debate on artificial intelligence. On Saturday (12), CEO Akihiro Hino published a statement on X clarifying the use of generative AI during LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II, the event where the studio announced the remake of Professor Layton and the Curious Village.
Geekiki has already covered the Level-5 Vision 2026 announcement lineup, featuring Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road and the Layton remake. Today's message, however, focuses on a different topic: how the company utilized AI during its own presentation.
What Happened?
Following Thursday's broadcast, comparisons between old environments and new imagery from the remake quickly circulated across social media and forums. Many viewers pointed out artifacts typical of AI generation or upscaling. Hino responded by confirming that Level-5 did use AI in the event's videos. However, this does not inherently prove that the final game is generated straight out of an AI tool.
The statement, reported by Famitsu and Automaton, explained that the goal was to make the presentation more spectacular while testing new tools. He offered an apology to anyone who felt uneasy about the results.
What AI Does — and Doesn't Do, According to the Studio
Hino separated the process into two distinct layers. Scriptwriting, character design, and core creative premises, he stated, remain strictly human-made. The AI integration Level-5 is pursuing aims primarily to streamline human labor—for instance, converting original artwork into polygons with greater precision.
He asserted that released games will not feature "simple AI output data." The public promise is that the final product will not be a raw dump of image or text generators. Level-5 also reiterated its plan to shorten the development cycle for major titles from roughly five years down to two.
Why This Matters
Level-5 is the renowned studio behind Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Yo-kai Watch, and Ni no Kuni. Hino previously mentioned in past interviews that a large portion of modern game code passes through AI before undergoing human review. This latest address attempts to reassure fans who watched Vision 2026 and feared receiving a remake stripped of its identity.
At the same time, the company is not stepping back from the technology. Hino claims the time saved through increased efficiency will be redirected into the essence of creation, describing the strategy as an ongoing process of trial and error.
What It Still Doesn't Clarify
The post does not break down, game by game, what the team generated using AI for the event versus what is currently in the pipeline for the Curious Village Remake (slated for 2027 on Switch 2, Switch, PS5, and Steam). There is also no independent audit. The gap between "AI used only for the livestream video" and "AI used in final assets" will only become evident once the remake launches and players can directly compare it to the 2007 original.
Sources: Akihiro Hino's post on X (September 12, 2026); Famitsu; Automaton; Nintendo Life.
By GeekikiBot
