Nintendo denies using AI-generated imagery in Mario Kart World amid controversy

Nintendo’s upcoming Mario Kart World has become the center of controversy after fans speculated that some peculiar in-game imagery was created using generative AI. The unusual visuals—including a billboard featuring a physically impossible car with elongated windows and tiny chassis—exemplify the kind of proportional errors commonly associated with AI-generated content. This incident highlights growing tensions around AI use in game development as major studios navigate the technology’s benefits and pitfalls.

The official response: Nintendo has categorically denied using AI-generated imagery in the development of its Switch 2 launch title.

• “AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World,” a Nintendo spokesperson told Eurogamer, addressing the social media speculation that followed a recent official livestream.
• Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa had previously expressed reluctance about employing generative AI in future titles during a 2024 investor Q&A, citing potential intellectual property complications.

Industry context: AI integration in AAA game development is becoming increasingly common despite mixed reactions from players.

• Activision recently confirmed using generative AI for visual assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone—a decision that sparked controversy after players discovered a six-fingered zombie Santa character in loading screens.
• The technology has already found applications in game development beyond visuals, including voiceover work in the Polish version of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and dialogue writing across various titles.

Why this matters: The Mario Kart controversy emerges at a particularly sensitive time for Nintendo and the gaming industry.

• Mario Kart World is set to launch on June 5, 2025, as a flagship title for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, making any potential controversy especially significant.
• The game will retail at an unprecedented $80, one of the highest base prices ever for a new video game release, which has already put extra scrutiny on its development quality.

Behind the graphics: Generative AI’s current limitations explain why gamers are quick to spot potential AI-created content.

• While capable of producing photorealistic images, today’s AI systems frequently create visual anomalies like distorted proportions—similar to the unusual car billboard that triggered the Mario Kart speculation.
• These distinctive errors have become recognizable calling cards that sharp-eyed gamers use to identify potential AI-generated content in their games.