Nintendo hesitant to use generative AI because it wants to create ‘the best gaming experiences’

THERE has been a lot of talk about generative AI in the tech industry, and some gaming companies have claimed they will jump on the new technology.

Last year Xbox entered into a partnership with Inworld AI to create generative AI tools for its game developers that will help with story, dialogue and quest designs.

Ubisoft also unveiled Neo NPCs, a generative AI tool aimed at making non-playable characters, including facial expressions and dialogue.

However, this switch to generative AI is not without controversy.

Since 2023, there has been an unprecedented number of layoffs within the industry, and many are worried that generative AI will make the issue worse.

There are other concerns that generative AI is anti-consumer, as players prefer the ‘human touch’, and have pushed back against other gaming tech initiatives, like a gaming metaverse, or NFTs.

During the Q&A section at the latest shareholder meeting, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa explained the company’s position on AI.

He said: “In the game industry, AI-like technologies have long been used, for example, to control the movements of opponent characters.

“So I believe that game development and AI technology have always had a close relationship.” 

Furukawa is talking about AI programmes that developers have written to decide how game characters, outside of the player, behave.

This type of AI has been part of gaming since the beginning, and players could even face off against an AI opponent in 1972’s arcade classic Pong.

He continued: “Generative AI, which is becoming a big topic recently, can be used in creative ways, but we recognize that it may also raise issues with intellectual property rights.”

This refers to how many AI models are taught using other people’s and companies’ work, as copyright law for this use is yet to be refined.

He says: “We have decades of know-how in creating the best gaming experiences for our players. 

“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.”

These comments imply that Nintendo has not completely ruled out generative AI, but that it understands the importance of the human touch.

If you want to read more about Nintendo, check out the seven new games coming to Nintendo Switch Online.

All the latest Nintendo Switch reviews

Get the lowdown on more of the latest Nintendo Switch releases from our expert reviewers.

For Xbox Series X and PS5 reviews, check out our full game reviews section.