Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino Apologizes for AI Showcase Backlash While Defending Its Use to Cut Game Development From Five Years to Two

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has confirmed that the studio will continue using generative AI despite backlash surrounding the company’s recent LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II showcase. Hino apologized after viewers noticed AI-assisted material in the presentation, but said the technology remains part of Level-5’s broader effort to make game development more efficient. The most significant detail in his statement is Level-5’s ambition to reduce the development time of major games from around five years to two. Hino described the studio’s current…