Nintendo has firmly denied allegations that it used AI-generated images for billboards in the eagerly awaited game Mario Kart World. Speculation arose after a Nintendo Treehouse livestream offered a sneak peek at the upcoming racing title. Observant fans noticed unusual in-game advertisement boards featuring images like a construction site, a bridge, and an unusually tall car, sparking debates about the use of AI in their creation.
While it's common for pre-release games to feature temporary placeholder graphics, Nintendo was quick to clarify that no AI-generated imagery was used in the development of Mario Kart World. In a statement to Eurogamer, the company emphasized, "AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World."
The debate over generative AI is a hot topic across creative industries, especially within video game development. Concerns include ethical and copyright issues, as well as the potential impact on jobs, with labor unions and video game performers advocating for protections against the use of AI.
Last September, Nintendo's legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto expressed the company's intention to take a unique approach to AI. Unlike EA CEO Andrew Wilson, who described AI as central to their business — a topic further examined by IGN — Miyamoto highlighted Nintendo's desire to diverge from industry trends.
In an interview with The New York Times, Miyamoto explained Nintendo's strategy: “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. There is a lot of talk about A.I., for example. When that happens, everyone starts to go in the same direction, but that is where Nintendo would rather go in a different direction."
These comments align with those made by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa in July, who acknowledged the potential of generative AI but noted its challenges with intellectual property rights. Furukawa emphasized Nintendo's commitment to leveraging their decades of expertise to deliver unique gaming experiences, stating, "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."
Mario Kart World is set to be a console exclusive for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, slated for release on June 5. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 began on April 24, maintaining a price of $449.99, and were met with the expected high demand. For more details, check out IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.
