[Updated] Suda51: NetEase Bans Its Studios from Using AI

[Updated] Suda 51: NetEase Banned Its Studios from Using AI

Update February 4, 18:52 MSK: Shortly after the news was published, staff from Insider Gaming contacted NetEase representatives for additional comments. The company briefly refuted Suda's words — "The described situation does not correspond to reality, and we have not made any statements on this matter."

Renowned game designer Goichi Suda (also known by the nickname Suda 51) spoke with journalists from Eurogamer regarding the upcoming release of Romeo is a Dead Man. During the conversation, the developer shared his opinion on artificial intelligence and stated that the company NetEase has banned its controlled studios from using AI.

According to Suda, NetEase initially had a department engaged in research and development in the field of artificial intelligence. However, over time, the company became disillusioned with the new technologies and decided to abandon them, simultaneously instructing its studios to "not engage with AI at all."

Suda added that he does not know the exact reason for this outcome but suggests there might be two: first, the overwhelming majority of gamers dislike artificial intelligence and its application in games; and second, issues with copyright infringement play a role.

Suda himself was initially against using AI, as was his entire team at Grasshopper Manufacture. The whole point is that generative content seems "fake and soulless" to the developers:

Personally, I don't like much of what appears on social media based on artificial intelligence. In the images and videos I see, something constantly repels me. Most people have the same feeling. Something on a psychological level suggests that something is wrong here.

They say the day will come when AI will be so advanced that people won't be able to distinguish it from reality. Perhaps that's true, but honestly, I don't think that day has come yet. When I see content created using generative AI, something in the depths of my consciousness constantly rejects it.

If I were to use AI to create "Romeo," then, firstly, it would be a terrible and fake "Romeo." People would notice that it has no soul. And secondly, the game would lack the passion that drives developers and that players feel. People always sense not only the human labor but also the soul that was put into it.

Goichi Suda

Meanwhile, there is very little time left until the release of Romeo is a Dead Man. The game launches on February 11 for PC (Steam, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. Unfortunately, Russian is not in the list of supported languages.