Nintendo Denies AI Lobbying Claims Amid Japanese Government Rumors

Nintendo Publicly Denies Lobbying Japanese Government Against Generative AI Nintendo, a global leader in the gaming industry and the creative force behind the Nintendo Switch, has recently addressed and debunked rumors about its involvement in lobbying the Japanese government regarding generative artificial intelligence (AI).

As discussions around the impact of AI on intellectual property and creative industries escalate worldwide, Nintendo's response underscores its ongoing commitment to the protection of its assets without direct governmental intervention. The rumors gained traction following social media posts from Japanese politician Satoshi Asano, who cited concerns over OpenAI’s Sora 2 and allegedly implicated Nintendo by stating the company had reserved funds to influence policy against the use of generative AI software.

These claims, made public via Asano's official X (formerly Twitter) account, have since been deleted. In response, Nintendo took to its official Japanese X account to issue a categorical denial: "Contrary to recent online discussions, Nintendo has not engaged in any communication with the Japanese government regarding generative AI.

Regardless of AI’s involvement, we will maintain all necessary measures to safeguard our intellectual property rights." This clear statement reaffirms Nintendo's dedication to protecting its IP, a stance for which the company is well-known across the gaming ecosystem, including the eShop and various Nintendo Direct showcases. The original claims by Satoshi Asano prompted a swift correction, with the politician taking responsibility for the spread of incorrect information.

Asano’s revised statement included an apology to all involved, acknowledging his failure to verify the facts thoroughly and expressing regret for any confusion caused.

He also confirmed that he had deleted the erroneous posts to prevent the further dissemination of misinformation, especially as the information was gaining attention through X’s trending topics. Nintendo has a long history of vigorously defending its intellectual property within the video game industry, a strategy often reflected in its actions on the Nintendo Switch platform and beyond.

However, the company emphasized that, in this instance, no lobbying of the Japanese government concerning generative AI had taken place—a point that directly refutes the circulated rumors. The rise of generative AI technology has understandably prompted concern among video game developers and publishers, many of whom depend on the originality and uniqueness of their content.

Nintendo’s public statement serves as a reminder of its active, but entirely internal, approach to IP protection while also clarifying its position in Japan’s evolving AI policy discourse. With over 125 million Nintendo Switch consoles sold worldwide and a vast catalog of beloved franchises, Nintendo’s reputation for both innovation and stringent IP defense remains at the forefront of industry conversations.

As the gaming landscape continues to shift alongside technological advancements like generative AI, Nintendo's proactive communication reaffirms its central principles of creativity, security, and transparency to the global player base.

Nintendo AI Japanese government generative AI Nintendo Switch Nintendo Direct eShop OpenAI Sora 2 Satoshi Asano