Nintendo Denies Use of AI Imagery in 'Mario Kart World' on Switch 2

Gaming giant Nintendo said Friday that AI-generated images are not present in its game Mario Kart World, following online speculation to the contrary.

The communication comes after gamers noticed imagery that resembled those with imperfections similar to AI-created images while watching a livestream of the upcoming game. Mario Kart World is set to release in June alongside the new Nintendo Switch 2 console.

"AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World," a Nintendo spokesperson told Eurogamer.

That response matches statements from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa last year, who said that while generative AI has gained popularity, the company would not be using it in its games. 

"Generative AI has gained attention for its creative capabilities, but it also comes with issues such as intellectual property rights,” Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said according to a translation of an investor Q&A event. 

Mario Kart World is the latest entry in Nintendo’s popular racing series, which pits Mario franchise characters against each other in go-kart races around a variety of themed tracks. In Mario Kart World, users will be able to race across more than 30 tracks that are all interconnected as part of an open world.

The title is expected to be one of the Switch 2’s most popular games, and is planned to launch alongside the Switch 2 hardware on June 5. 

Formal details about the Switch 2 were released earlier this year with news that the device would launch in 2025. Everything we know about the device, its pricing, and upcoming games can be found in our comprehensive guide.

Edited by Andrew Hayward