Nintendo is reportedly advocating for stricter regulations on generative AI in Japan.
Nintendo lobbying against generative AI
Concern over intellectual property protection
Past lawsuits highlight copyright issues
Government initiatives on AI usage
Human touch remains in game creation
Feedback from creators is welcomed
Nintendo has formally denied claims that it lobbied the Japanese government to impose restrictions on generative artificial intelligence (AI) in game development. Representative Satoshi Asano retracted his statement and apologized for inaccurate reporting.
Politician’s Claim and Retraction
On October 3, 2025, Representative Satoshi Asano of the Democratic Party for the People posted that Nintendo “avoids using generative AI to protect its intellectual property and is engaging in lobbying activities with the government”. After Nintendo’s denial, Asano deleted his post and issued an apology for failing to verify the facts.[1][2][3]
Nintendo’s Official Statement
On October 5, 2025, Nintendo Japan declared on its verified X account:
“Nintendo has not had any contact with the Japanese government about generative AI. Whether generative AI is involved or not, we will continue to take necessary actions against infringement of our intellectual property rights.”[4][5]
Summary of Key Litigation Actions
Plaintiff
Defendant
Claim
Date Filed
Damages Sought
Yomiuri Shimbun
Perplexity AI
Copyright
August 2025
¥2.17 billion
Nikkei Shimbun
Perplexity AI
Copyright
August 2025
Undisclosed
Asahi Shimbun
Perplexity AI
Copyright
August 2025
Undisclosed
The New York Times
OpenAI
Copyright
2025
Undisclosed
Getty Images
Stability AI
Image rights
2025
Undisclosed
Government Guidance on Generative AI
In June 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released the Guidebook for Utilizing Generative AI in Content Creation, advising checks for similarity between AI outputs and existing copyrighted works.[6][7]
Developer Adoption and Concerns
A 2025 Game Developers Conference survey found 50 percent of game studios use generative AI tools, while 84 percent express concerns over copyright infringement. Some Japanese firms, including DeNA, are building AI systems trained solely on proprietary data.[7][8][9][10]
Nintendo’s Creative Philosophy
Senior executives emphasize human creativity over automation. Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said there will always be a human touch in game design. Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto stated Nintendo prefers a creative path distinct from reliance on generative AI.[11][12][13][14]
Luca Fischer is a senior technology journalist with more than twelve years of professional experience specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and consumer electronics. He earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University in 2011, where he developed a strong foundation in data science and network security before transitioning into tech media.
Throughout his career, Luca has been recognized for his clear, analytical approach to explaining complex technologies. His in-depth articles explore how AI innovations, privacy frameworks, and next-generation devices impact both industry and society.
Luca’s work has appeared across leading digital publications, where he delivers detailed reviews, investigative reports, and feature analyses on major players such as Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI.
Beyond writing, he mentors young journalists entering the AI-tech field and advocates for transparent, ethical technology communication. His goal is to make the future of technology understandable and responsible for everyone.
Nintendoeverything.com is a news and information website dedicated to all things Nintendo, providing daily updates on the company's games, consoles, and related media. It is not affiliated with the official Nintendo company and features a variety of content, including news, exclusive translations, interviews, reviews, and video content.
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She earned her B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of California, Berkeley (2016), where she studied human-computer interaction, AI, and digital behavior.
Elena’s work emphasizes the societal implications of technology, ensuring readers understand both the practical and ethical dimensions of emerging tools. She leads the Tech Section at Faharas NET, supervising coverage on AI, consumer software, digital society, and privacy technologies, while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
Based in Berlin, Germany, Elena provides insightful analyses on technology trends, ethical AI deployment, and the influence of social platforms on modern life.
Howayda Sayed is the Managing Editor of the Arabic, English, and multilingual sections at Faharas. She leads editorial supervision, review, and quality assurance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to translation and editorial standards. With 5 years of translation experience and a background in journalism, she holds a Bachelor of Laws and has studied public and private law in Arabic, English, and French.
