Nintendo has firmly rejected claims that it employed AI-generated images for billboards in the upcoming game, Mario Kart World. Speculation arose following a Nintendo Treehouse livestream that offered a closer look at the game. Observant fans noticed that several in-game advertisements, featuring a construction site, a bridge, and an unusually tall car, appeared odd, sparking rumors about AI use.
Does this look like AI to you? Image credit: Nintendo.
While it's common for pre-release titles to include placeholder graphics, Nintendo has categorically denied using AI-generated imagery in Mario Kart World, even in its developmental stages. In a statement to Eurogamer, the company asserted, "AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World."
This odd-looking car sparked speculation. Image credit: Nintendo.
The debate over generative AI is heating up across creative industries, including video game development. This technology raises not only ethical and copyright concerns but also fears about job displacement among labor unions and performers, who are advocating for stronger protections against its use.
Last September, Shigeru Miyamoto, a legendary Nintendo developer, expressed that the company prefers to take a different approach to AI compared to other video game industry players. For instance, while EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described AI as central to their business—a perspective IGN delved into further—Miyamoto emphasized Nintendo's unique path.
In an interview with The New York Times, Miyamoto elaborated on this stance, saying, "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."
Miyamoto's views align with comments from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, who, in July, noted that while generative AI could be harnessed creatively, it also poses challenges to intellectual property rights. Furukawa added, "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."
The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, for which Mario Kart World is a console exclusive, is scheduled to launch on June 5. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $449.99, began on April 24 and were met with significant demand—details on how to pre-order can be found in IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.
