Level-5 has responded to fan concerns regarding the perceived use of generative AI in its recent "VISION 2026 II: Dreams" presentation. The studio stated that many of the unusual visual elements noticed in trailers for games like Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain were not the result of AI tools, but rather a combination of human error and the necessity of adhering to strict deadlines for events like the Nintendo Direct.
According to a post on Level-5's official website, some background artwork that drew accusations of being "AI slop" was based on real-world references. The studio explained that the peculiar appearance of telephone poles in the Yo-Kai Watch 2 trailer, for instance, stemmed from using reference photos of actual Japanese electrical wiring, which can appear unusual. Similarly, vending machines and rain gutters that some fans believed were AI-generated were attributed by Level-5 to flawed artistic execution.
These particular issues were corrected in a later version of the Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain trailer, but the initial version had to be submitted to meet the Nintendo Direct's timeline. An updated version of the trailers is slated to be shown at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. While Level-5's CEO, Akihiro Hino, has previously expressed his belief in AI as a tool for creative advancement and not something to be demonized, the studio is clarifying that its use in development is aimed at improving efficiency. The company aims to limit AI's application in ways that appear in public-facing materials shared with fans.
Level-5 acknowledges the fan mistrust surrounding AI in game development but aims to assure its audience that the visual anomalies highlighted were not indicative of widespread AI implementation gone wrong. The studio intends to showcase revised trailers to further address these concerns.