NetEase tells studios not to use AI ‘at all’ [UPDATED]

The co-founder of Grasshopper Manufacture said NetEase does not allow any studio to use AI.

update: In a statement sent to Insider Gaming, NetEase denied that it had instructed studios to no longer use AI.

“The situation described has not actually occurred and we have not published any related policies.” A NetEase spokesperson said:

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns in the gaming industry about its application in games. Opinions on this issue vary. While some support AI’s ability to quickly process mundane tasks, others argue that AI should not be utilized in artistic capacities. Still others refuse to use AI altogether. Recently, Take-Two discussed generative AI in relation to GTA 6, and we also see where NetEase stands on the issue.

NetEase stops using AI in all internal game studios

In a new interview with Eurogamer, Goichi Suda 51, co-founder of Grasshopper Manufacturing (acquired by NetEase in 2021) and director of Romeo Is Dead, details his views on the use of AI in games. First talking about his game, Suda 51 said that if Romeo were made by AI, it would be “fake”, “hard to relate to” and “a little creepy”. The director also said that the effort and passion the developers put into their creation can be felt by the player, but the AI ​​doesn’t evoke the same emotions.

Next, Mr. Suda51 talked about NetEase’s ban on the use of AI, saying, “Originally there was a section for research and development of AI-related things.” However, they decided not to work on that section anymore, shut it down, and told their studios to “not use AI in their games, or at all.”

When asked why, Suda (51) said he didn’t know the exact reason, but he suspected there were two reasons. Firstly, the majority of players do not like AI and the introduction of AI into games, and secondly, there is the issue of copyright infringement. Insider Gaming has reached out to NetEase Games for clarification and will update this article once we receive a response.

In other news, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which used generative AI, was disqualified from the Indie Game Awards. Divinity’s developers state in the concept art that they “refrain from using GenAI tools.” What do you think about NetEase telling studios they won’t use AI at all? Leave your thoughts in the comments and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.

For more from Insider Gaming, read about GTA 5, which sold over 225 million copies. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.