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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Nintendo has not announced a plan to use generative AI in its games, but it has not announced a ban either. In shareholder-meeting answers in 2024 and 2026, company president Shuntaro Furukawa discussed generative AI’s creative potential alongside intellectual-property concerns; in 2026, he also cited power consumption. Neither answer confirmed whether Nintendo currently uses generative AI in game development.
What Nintendo said in 2024
At Nintendo’s 84th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in 2024, a shareholder asked about the company’s AI initiatives. Furukawa said AI-like technologies had long been used in games, including to control opponent characters’ movements. He then distinguished the newer discussion around generative AI, saying: “Generative AI, which is becoming a big topic recently, can be used in creative ways, but we recognize that it may also raise issues with intellectual property rights.”
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He added that Nintendo was open to technological developments while aiming to provide value that technology alone could not create. His answer did not say Nintendo would avoid generative AI, nor did it disclose whether the company uses it in development. The question and answer addressed game development generally; Furukawa did not restrict his comments to Nintendo’s first-party games. Nintendo’s 2024 Q&A summary is the primary source.
What changed in Nintendo’s 2026 answer
At the 86th Annual General Meeting, dated June 26, 2026, Furukawa again discussed AI’s connection to game development and identified concerns around generative AI. He said: “These days, generative AI can be used for even more creative purposes, but we recognize that it also presents issues in areas such as intellectual property rights and power consumption.”
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He also said Nintendo would comply with AI-related laws and regulations and protect its intellectual property in accordance with the law. On enforcement, he stated: “Regardless of whether generative AI is used, if Nintendo determines that something infringes on Nintendo IP, our policy is to respond appropriately, and we have no plans to change this policy.” This describes Nintendo’s approach to protecting its IP; it does not reveal whether Nintendo uses generative AI in its own games. The official 2026 Q&A summary notes that its answers have been edited or revised for readability and asks that quotations cite or link to the file.
What “no plans” means—and what it does not
The phrase “has no plans to use generative AI” is a media characterization, not a direct statement in Furukawa’s 2024 answer. That answer acknowledged possible creative uses and risks but did not give a yes or no on Nintendo’s use. A contemporaneous AUTOMATON WEST analysis likewise noted that the remarks were being reported as a categorical refusal even though Furukawa had not explicitly ruled use in or out.
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- Not an announced adoption: Nintendo has not said in these answers that it plans to use generative AI in its games.
- Not a ban: Neither answer declares a blanket prohibition on generative AI.
- Not a disclosure of current use: The statements do not establish whether Nintendo uses generative AI in game development.
- Not a statement about one specific game: Furukawa’s comments do not identify a title, team, or production task using the technology.
Why conventional game AI is a separate issue
When Furukawa referred to AI-like technologies already used in games, he gave opponent-character movement as an example. That kind of programmed behavior is distinct from generative AI, which produces new content or material. The fact that games have long used AI-like systems therefore does not show that Nintendo uses generative AI to create game content.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Nintendo’s stated concerns and policy
The 2024 answer emphasized potential intellectual-property issues. In 2026, Furukawa named both IP rights and power consumption as concerns, while also setting out Nintendo’s stated legal and enforcement approach:
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- Nintendo said it would comply with laws and regulations related to AI.
- It said it would protect its intellectual property in accordance with the law.
- It said it would respond appropriately when it determines that something infringes Nintendo IP, whether or not generative AI was used.
Those points concern risk management and protection of Nintendo’s IP. They should not be read as evidence of Nintendo’s own adoption or non-use of generative AI in its games.
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