NetEase denies telling its studios to stop using AI, saying: ‘We have not published any…’

NetEase has denied claims that it prohibits its studios from using artificial intelligence (AI). This confirmation follows statements from the co-founder of Grasshopper Manufacture suggesting the company had implemented such a ban. In a statement to Insider Gaming, a NetEase spokesperson said: “The situation described did not occur, and we have not published any related policies.”

The gaming industry has been debating the use of AI in game development. Some developers support AI for handling repetitive tasks, while others oppose its use in artistic work, and some reject it entirely. Take-Two recently discussed generative AI in relation to GTA 6.

What Grasshopper Manufacture co-founder said about NetEase banning studios from using AI

During a recent interview with Eurogamer, the co-founder of Grasshopper Manufacture (which NetEase acquired in 2021) and the director of Romeo is a Dead Man, Goichi "Suda 51" Suda, elaborated on his perspective on AI use in games.

Suda 51 discussed NetEase's ban on AI use, stating that they “originally had a section researching and developing AI-related stuff." However, they decided not to work on that section anymore, shutting it down and telling "their studios to not use AI in games, to not use it at all."

When asked why, Suda 51 said he doesn't know the exact reason but speculates there could be two. First, many players "don't like AI and having it in their games," and second, "issues with copyright infringement" also come into play.

Talking about his game, Suda 51 stated that Romeo would be "fake", "hard to relate to", and "kind of creepy" if it were made with AI. The director also stated that the work and passion developers put into creating can be felt by players, whereas AI won't invoke the same feeling.

Apart from this, the Indie Game Awards disqualified Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for using generative AI. Divinity developers have stated that they will "refrain from using GenAI tools" for concept art.

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