Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino has confirmed that the company used generative AI in a recent digital showcase and apologized for the decision. The presentation included reveals connected to Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch, two of Level-5’s best-known franchises.
Hino publicly acknowledged the use of the technology, which Level-5 employed to make the broadcast more spectacular, as first reported by Eurogamer. His apology puts the studio among game companies facing direct questions from audiences about where AI tools appear in public-facing work.
The disclosure affects how fans read major announcements
Professor Layton has long been closely associated with Level-5, while Yo-Kai Watch remains another central series in its catalogue. A showcase carrying reveals for those properties attracts attention beyond the individual clips, because fans use these events to judge a studio’s plans and creative direction.
The reported use concerned presentation material for the event. That distinction matters because the broadcast serves as the first encounter many players have with upcoming projects, and the visuals used to frame those announcements can influence trust in the work behind them.
Generative AI has become a contentious subject across games, with debates focused on creative ownership, labor and disclosure. Hino’s decision to address this instance publicly gives viewers a clear acknowledgment that the company used the technology, instead of leaving the origin of the material unaddressed.
Several details remain unclear
Level-5 has not identified which specific assets the technology generated or modified. The company also has not provided the date of the showcase or Hino’s apology, and it remains unknown whether generative AI played any role in developing the games announced during the presentation.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
