Japanese game developer Level-5 reveals how they use generative AI like Stable Diffusion 

Level-5, the Japanese developer known for the Ni no Kuni and Professor Layton games, have revealed that they have been using generative AI to assist game development and promotion. In a slideshow document submitted to a Japanese government study group on intellectual property rights in the AI era, the developer gave examples of how they utilize AI. 

According to a report by ITmedia, Level-5 demonstrated how they have been using the text-to-image AI model Stable Diffusion. For Megaton Musashi: Wired, set to release next year, they had the AI generate multiple draft layouts for the title screen, which the studio’s illustrators then used as reference to create a final title screen that would fit the game’s concept. For promotional images, Level-5 are not only using Stable Diffusion to generate initial layout ideas but are also using AI (SwinIR) to sharpen up the image quality. 

Level-5 is also known for its Yo-kai Watch games based on the popular children’s anime. They used Stable Diffusion to create 3D images of main character Nathan Adams/Keita Amano. The AI learned from multiple 2D images of the character in past games, outputting a variety of 3D images with different lighting, expressions and backgrounds. The developer uses these as a guide for creating the right atmosphere in the game.

For their soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, Level-5 used parts of AI images to create sections of the in-game backgrounds, such as large crowds and groups of buildings. They then combined these AI segments with the backgrounds and character illustrations created by artists.  

In addition to image generation, Level-5 is also using other types of AI. The company is using ChatGPT for character creation proposals and the text-to-speech synthesizer software VOICEVOX to generate temporary voices for characters. For game promotion, they are using the programming assistance tool Github Copilot and Genie AI (ChatGPT) to generate code and polish up game descriptions in order to create websites in a more efficient manner.  

The use of AI in creative industries continues to be a contentious topic, amid criticisms that it is “soulless” and concerns that it could be used to replace human talent. Level-5 however, seems to focus on always having humans direct, rearrange and finalize what the AI does, using AI purely as an assistive tool rather than a way to replace people. In their transparent presentation document, the Japanese developer has shown that AI can be an effective tool for “creating basic data”, “making proposals” and “improving quality.”