Level-5 responds to AI backlash over VISION 2026 II and Yo-Kai Watch 2 teaser on September 16, 2026

The studio says the unusual details in the Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain teaser were not caused by AI, but by human error and reference photos of real Japanese power lines.

Shared social posts also mention Vision trailers being re-uploaded with AI-related passages removed, though the exact scope has not been fully confirmed.

What happened

Level-5 came under fire after the VISION 2026 II: Dreams presentation on September 10, 2026. In the aftermath, online criticism grew over the visuals shown for titles including Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch, with viewers suspecting generative AI had been used for parts of the artwork and backgrounds.

According to the reporting, Level-5 explained on September 16, 2026 that not all of the odd visual elements should be attributed to AI. The clearest example is the Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain teaser, where the telephone poles and wiring were said by the studio to have been based on reference photos of real Japanese electrical cables.

The studio is therefore saying the standout details in that specific clip were the result of human mistakes. Based on the available sources, it has not been fully confirmed which other trailers or segments may be adjusted.

Background

The controversy centered on the presentation in which Level-5 showed new footage for titles including Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain. After the broadcast, social media and reporting focused on inconsistent backgrounds and unusual details in the artwork.

Akihiro Hino, Level-5's CEO, was mentioned in the social discussion around the issue, but the concrete explanation visible in the available sources focuses mainly on the Yo-Kai Watch 2 teaser and the reference photos used for the wiring.

The YouTube video for the teaser carries the title 【PV】『妖怪ウォッチ2 覇道』ティザーPV（LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II Ver.） and ties into the same September 10, 2026 presentation.