Nintendo denies allegations of using AI-generated images in Mario Kart World
Following a wave of rumours and speculation about strange billboards in Mario Kart World, Nintendo has officially stated that the game did not use artificial intelligence to create the images. The company emphasised that all visual elements were designed by humans, and the suspicious banners could be temporary plugs in the early stages of development.
Here's What We Know
The first assumptions about AI images appeared after the recent Nintendo Treehouse stream, where attentive viewers noticed billboards with strange images on the highways - a construction site, a bridge with unusual lines, and a car with disproportionately large windows. These elements raised suspicions that the developers could have used generative artificial intelligence to create some of the art.
However, in a statement to Eurogamer, a Nintendo representative categorically denied these assumptions: "AI-generated images were not used during the development of Mario Kart World." At the same time, he explained that the materials shown on the stream could not be final, but simply temporary stubs that are often used in the process of game development.
This position is in line with the overall strategy of Nintendo, which is known for its caution in the use of AI in the creative process. The company's legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto has previously stated that Nintendo seeks to follow a "different path" compared to other industry giants that actively implement artificial intelligence in development.
Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa also emphasised that although the company is open to new technologies, it is attentive to intellectual property issues and the uniqueness of the gaming experience created by people, not machines.
Mario Kart World will be one of the main games for the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, which is scheduled for release on 5 June 2025. The game promises large-scale open tracks and new mechanics that can turn the series into a real hit of the next generation.
Nintendo has been accused of using AI-generated images for the billboards in 'Mario Kart Worlds'.
- Knoebel (@Knoebelbroet) 12 May 2025
Nintendo saying in a statement that this is not the case.
"AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World."https://t.co/QD3zxmHDq1 pic.twitter.com/5GqkcUSYvS
Source: Eurogamer
