Cygames Issues Apology After Fierce Fan Backlash Over AI Studio Launch

Umamusume developer apologises after AI studio backlash, says it will not use generative AI "without prior notice"

Japanese video game developer Cygames has released a new statement regarding its use of AI, after last week announcing its intention to create an AI-focused subsidiary company, which stirred up a certain amount of discourse. Writing on social media platform X, the studio - which is known for a variety of popular games including Umamusume: Pretty Derby - apologised for the "concern" it had caused. It added its original announcement was a "simplified" one, which did not address "any of the current problems and social debates" around generative AI. Cygames stated that art produced via generative AI is not used in its products, and all of its current games have been "crafted from the technical know-how and manual work" of its staff. It furthered that the studio "won't implement generative AI into [its] products without prior notice" to the community. On the topic of its community, the studio said it holds those of us who love games - including creators and artists - "in the highest regard". Cygames intends to continue honouring free expression while striving to deliver "the best in entertainment", it closed, with another apology to its fans and supporters. You, of course, don't need me to tell you how rampant the AI discourse in the industry is at the moment. Just this morning, we reported on Hazelight founder Josef Fares' thoughts about the technology, where the developer said he doesn't see AI "taking over", and nor does he see any issue with using AI as long as it isn't generative. Meanwhile, a number of other Japanese studios such as Square Enix and Sega have expressed interest in AI use. As for Cygames, Umamusume: Pretty Derby won the best mobile game award at last year's The Game Awards.

Umamusume developer Cygames bullied into apology by outraged horse girl enthusiasts after announcing AI subsidiary: 'We sincerely apologize for the concern we've caused'

Umamusume developer and global leader in anime horse girl media production Cygames announced late last week that it had formed Cygames AI Studio, an AI-centric subsidiary that a company blog post says "will build a unique creative cycle that goes beyond simply improving efficiency to expand creators' creativity." Judging from the overwhelming contempt visible in the replies to the company's announcement on X, approximately nobody enjoyed hearing this news. Today, after six days of cyberbullying from an internet's worth of horse girl enthusiasts, Cygames released an apology. Sort of. If we're counting "I'm sorry you're upset" as an apology. "Over the past few days, we've received numerous comments expressing anger and disappointment from many of you," Cygames said. "This was because we released a simplified announcement in Japanese concerning the founding of Cygames AI Studio, Inc., without addressing any of the current problems and social debates surrounding generative AI. We sincerely apologize for the concern we've caused." While it specified that its products don't use art created by generative AI and that it holds "in the highest regard those who love games, as well as the dignity, passion, and heart of the creators and artists who act as the architects of gaming culture," Cygames said that it "won't implement generative AI into our products without prior notice." Unsurprisingly, promising to provide a warning before you still do the thing your fans are upset about isn't a commitment that inspires much confidence -- particularly when, as users quickly noticed, the Cygames career site currently lists openings for generative AI-related engineer and artist positions. The news of Cygames' AI pivot isn't entirely surprising, as its parent company CyberAgent has been leaning into an AI-heavy strategy in recent years. CyberAgent has maintained an "AI Lab" R&D division since 2016, and in 2023 the company announced the formation of yet another AI-focused division working on implementing generative AI in animation and game development. While AI usage has been spreading throughout the games industry, Japanese developers have seemed less shy in declaring their interest in the technology, with major publishers like Square Enix openly committing to generative AI strategies and over 50% of Japanese game companies responding in a 2025 survey that they're using AI in game development.

'We Won't Implement GenAI Into Our Games Without Prior Notice', Vows Granblue Developer Cygames

Japanese developer Cygames, known mainly for the Granblue Fantasy, Shadowverse, and Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchises, has recently faced significant backlash from several of its otherwise staunch fans over the establishment of a subsidiary, Cygames AI Studio. Announced last week, Cygames AI Studio is a new division whose purpose is to pursue AI technology that creators can use safely and securely, drawing on the experience it has cultivated in game development. The company's goal is to build a 'unique creative cycle' that goes beyond simply improving efficiency to expand creators' creativity. The announcement also mentioned that, with this new AI Studio, Cygames will take on the challenge of creating new user experiences to realize its vision of being a company that 'creates the best content.' As mentioned above, the news wasn't taken kindly by many of the studio's usual supporters. Now, the developer has shared a public letter of apology in which it vowed that no genAI assets have been used in their games, and that genAI wouldn't be implemented at all in their games without prior notice. To all our Cygames fans and supporters, Over the past few days, we've received numerous comments expressing anger and disappointment from many of you. This was because we released a simplified announcement in Japanese concerning the founding of Cygames AI Studio, Inc., without addressing any of the current problems and social debates surrounding generative AI. We sincerely apologize for the concern we've caused. We would like to take this opportunity to state that art produced from genAI isn't used in our products. Furthermore, we won't implement genAI into our products without prior notice. We hold in the highest regard those who love games, as well as the dignity, passion, and heart of the creators and artists who act as the architects of gaming culture. The art for all current Cygames games and other products is crafted from the technical know-how and manual work of our many staff members. Once again, we deeply apologize for causing our beloved fans much grief and anxiety. We at Cygames will continue to honor creators, as well as champion the free expression of people, and, in doing so, will continue to strive to be the best in entertainment. Thank you for your continued support. The Japanese developer is only the latest to become embroiled in controversy over genAI. The most famous case recently was undoubtedly Larian's: when studio founder and CEO Swen Vincke mentioned in an interview that they had been experimenting with genAI to quickly develop concept art and write placeholder text while working on the new Divinity game, a massive backlash ensued, forcing Vincke and Larian as a whole to first say that 'a lot had been lost in translation' and then, last week, to backtrack on any usage of genAI to make concept art or even placeholder text for the upcoming game. No doubt, more controversies within the industry are on the way, given the polarizing subject. On which side are you on? Speak your mind in the comments.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink and Umamusume: Pretty Derby developer Cygames apologises for AI concerns

Following the creation of Cygames AI Studio Inc., the Granblue Fantasy: Relink developer found itself in hot water with its fans. Many critiqued the fact that none of the debates around AI had been mentioned in this new business venture, with it seeming like yet another company had just dived head-first into AI usage. In an apology message posted on social media, Cygames addresses fan concerns. "We sincerely apologise for the concern we've caused," the message reads. "We would like to take this opportunity to state that art produced from generative AI isn't used in our products. Furthermore, we won't implement generative AI into our products without further notice." "We at Cygames will continue to honour creators, as well as champion the free expression of people, and, in doing so, will continue to strive to be the best in entertainment," concludes the message. Fans are still concerned by the mention that Cygames is keeping the door open for generative AI in the future, but will let us know ahead of time when it is being used. But, looking at the comments of the X/Twitter post, Cygames seems to have won back some goodwill by owning its misstep.