Cygames Issues Explanation and Apology Over Recent AI Controversy

Two weeks ago, Cygames posted on their X account a very controversial announcement about opening an AI focused studio. The purpose of this studio will be to use AI tools for development and provision of services, without anything more concrete or specific.

Disappointing news, yet hardly anything new for the world of video games. Most of the online gaming stores experienced a flood of games that use AI-generated content ever since it got barely good enough to generate something that looks passable to people who don't care or don't pay attention.

Even some of the biggest gaming studios have been caught utilizing it to some extent. Most recently there was a huge case with Larian admitting that they use it to iterate faster, Ubisoft using it for "placeholder" artwork in Anno 117, Activision using it for various cosmetic rewards in Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIIIII, Supercell trying to integrate it on just about every level of development, and of course, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 admitting to using it back when technology was new.

That said, regardless of how common it is, GenAI is still viewed by many as completely unacceptable when it comes to art. Interacting with books, movies, games, and other artistic mediums is a personal experience. Every piece of art is a conversation that relies on personal touch to resonate with people, and a machine that mindlessly regurgitates what was fed to it has little to add.

As such, Cygames announcement was met with a colossal amount of criticism from many fans of both Granblue Fantasy and Umamusume, which are some of Cygames's largest properties.

The response was overwhelming enough that the company had to issue a new statement that you can see below.

While they apologize for causing the concern, this shouldn't be mistaken for a retraction or change of plans. Cygames is still committing to AI and opening a whole studio for that purpose. The only reassurance here is that AI supposedly wasn't used for their current products, and if it will be used, they will tell you.

The development and proliferation of GenAI continues to have a disastrous impact on economy, ecology, education, and virtually everything else it comes in contact with, so there is still hope that companies will change course before it leads to disastrous outcomes.