Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Comments on AI in Gaming

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Key Takeaways

Nintendo is not planning to use AI in game development, in contrast to many other studios.
AI is already impacting game development, with 62% of studios using it.
Despite concerns, Nintendo plans to stick to human developers for now.

Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo fame has spoken out about AI during a recent interview. With so many game developers embracing the new technology, Miyamoto has given an idea of how Nintendo feels about it and whether it will be using it going forward in projects.

Generative AI has already had an impact on numerous fields, and gaming is no different. Some developers have already announced plans to utilize AI in development, which understandably has workers in the industry anxious about their future. With so many layoffs in gaming and overall restructuring already becoming commonplace, some have worried that AI will take over some human developers’ work.

As Shigeru Miyamoto himself puts it, though, Nintendo often goes in the opposite direction of its biggest competitors, and the same can be said for its position on AI. In a new interview with The New York Times (via Dexerto), Miyamoto talked a bit about AI and its place in game development with Nintendo. Miyamoto noted that Nintendo isn’t planning on using AI, pointing to the company’s history of standing out from the crowd. This is in keeping with what the current Nintendo president previously said about AI, noting that it wanted to “deliver value” that “cannot be created with technology alone.”

The Game Industry Continues to Embrace AI

It does seem accurate to say that Nintendo is a bit of an outlier in this regard. While not every studio is using AI or even plans to, numerous developers and publishers have acknowledged that AI will or is playing a role in their upcoming titles. A Unity report alleges that 62% of game studios are already using AI, while titles like Magic: The Gathering have been criticized for their use of generative AI. EA recently showcased an AI concept that would allow users to create basic game assets within minutes while using voice commands, showing AI’s potential in game development.

Generative AI is arguably just getting started, which has many gamers and developers a bit anxious about the future. For the time being, at least, it seems as though Nintendo isn’t going to be one of the reasons to worry. The company has a history of its games not technically measuring up to competitors’ releases purely in terms of things like polygon count and ray-tracing, yet Nintendo still delivers beautiful, captivating, and extremely fun experiences to play. While the company’s stance could change someday depending on what AI is able to do as it continues to evolve, for now, Nintendo games will continue to be developed by people and not generative AI.