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Nintendo Avoids Generative AI for Game Development Over IP Concerns

Author

Alicia Shapiro
July 05, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

A scene showing Nintendo's decision to avoid generative AI in game development. The image includes a Nintendo logo and characters with a crossed-out generative AI symbol. The background features a game development setting with designers working on traditional methods, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property and preserving gaming legacy

Nintendo Avoids Generative AI for Game Development Over IP Concerns

Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, addressed concerns about intellectual property breaches related to generative AI during a recent shareholder meeting. Despite the creative potential of generative AI tools, Nintendo has decided against incorporating these elements in its upcoming games due to IP risks.

Key Points from the Shareholder Meeting:

  • Reluctance to Use Generative AI: Furukawa highlighted the longstanding relationship between AI and game development but expressed concerns about generative AI potentially breaching intellectual property rights. He stated, “Generative AI, which has become a hot topic in recent years, can do more creative things, but on the other hand, we recognize that it also has problems related to intellectual property rights.”

  • Commitment to Traditional Methods: Furukawa emphasized that the value gamers seek cannot be delivered by new-age technology and tools like generative AI alone. He added, “We have decades of know-how to create the best gaming experience for our customers.”

Preservation of Nintendo’s Legacy

While Nintendo avoids generative AI, efforts to preserve its classic games continue. Bitcoin developers have inscribed an emulator for the Nintendo 64 (N64) console on the Bitcoin network. This initiative, led by Trevor Owens, CEO of Bitcoin Ordinals portfolio tracker Ninjalerts, aims to preserve classic video games using blockchain technology.

Blockchain Preservation: Owens and his team advocate for legally preserving critically endangered games onchain. He stated, “We want to advance the conversation with preservationists around classic games and hope that effort can be taken by the community to figure out how to put the critically endangered games onchain in a legal way.”

Conclusion

Nintendo's decision to avoid generative AI in game development highlights the company's commitment to protecting intellectual property and delivering high-quality gaming experiences through traditional methods. Meanwhile, efforts to preserve Nintendo's legacy through blockchain technology are gaining momentum, ensuring that classic games remain accessible for future generations.