Using Generative AI in game development has been, and will continue to be, a controversial topic for the foreseeable future. Since The Game Awards and the backlash that hit Larian Studios following their CEO's admission to using GenAI in the development of Divinity, and Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 losing one of its Game of the Year wins due to the studio using GenAI in the game's development, it has once again been at the forefront of industry conversation. Now, Level-5 chief executive officer Akihiro Hino has weighed in with his view, prompted by Clair Obscur losing its GOTY win.
In a post shared on Hino's official X (formerly Twitter) account, Hino outlines that, in his view, GenAI is able to provide "time savings that can't be dismissed," and that if we continue to build "the impression that 'using AI is bad,' it could seriously hinder the progress of modern digital tech."
Hino begins by clarifying a point on GenAI surrounding one of Level-5's upcoming titles, after there were claims that the studio was letting generative AI do all the programming. The Professor Layton and Ni No Kuni developer is not doing that, according to Hino, and calls the whole thing a misunderstanding, saying, "The truth of the matter is that there's an unreleased title themed around AI, and for that specific title, a programmer mentioned they're deliberately having AI handle the programming as well. They used that as an example to suggest that an era like that might be coming, and that's what got blown out of proportion."
Hino then continues to share his viewpoint on GenAI, which emphasizes that the technology is a tool, and one that, ultimately, cannot be ignored.
"AI is enabling time savings that can't be dismissed, and I believe this has the potential to upend common sense in game development. It might shift us from a world where developing the AAA games everyone wants to play takes 5-10 years to one where we get to enjoy them every two years. AI sometimes gets treated like it's synonymous with plagiarism, but a knife can be used for cooking or as a weapon; a computer can create games or enable cybercrime. AI might produce plagiarized content if misused, but if used properly, it has the power to enrich the creative world even further."
"I want to see games evolve even more in my lifetime," Hino continues. "I want to experience and create dreamlike games that surpass the standards of today's AAA titles. If we let the impression take hold here that 'using AI is evil,' it could seriously hinder the advancement of modern digital technology. I hope creators and audiences alike can recognize 'AI' as a tool that people use to make their works. Here's to hoping that various technological innovations lead to even greater growth in the game industry!"
About the author: David has been writing about videogames, technology, and culture since 2020, with a focus on reporting daily news across multiple publications, including GameDaily.Biz, GameSkinny, and PlayStation Universe before joining Wccftech in 2025. David started contributing as Canada/US reporter for Wccftech's gaming section in 2025. Besides being up-to-date on the industry's movements, he loves interviewing developers, reviewing games, and writing intricate essays about the symbolism and layered meanings to be found in rich narratives as he's done for publications like GamesIndustry.Biz, LostInCult, and others. Outside of games he loves movies, music, theatre, his hometown, and his family, though not necessarily in that order.
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