Umamusume developer Cygames bullied into apology by outraged horse woman lovers after saying AI subsidiary: 'We sincerely apologize for the priority we've triggered'
Umamusume developer and international chief in anime horse woman media manufacturing Cygames introduced late final week that it had fashioned Cygames AI Studio, an AI-centric subsidiary that an organization weblog submit says “will construct a singular artistic cycle that goes past merely bettering effectivity to increase creators’ creativity.”
Judging from the overwhelming contempt seen within the replies to the corporate’s announcement on X, roughly no one loved listening to this information. As we speak, after six days of cyberbullying from an web’s value of horse woman lovers, Cygames launched an apology. Type of. If we’re counting “I am sorry you are upset” as an apology.
“Over the previous few days, we have acquired quite a few feedback expressing anger and disappointment from a lot of you,” Cygames mentioned. “This was as a result of we launched a simplified announcement in Japanese in regards to the founding of Cygames AI Studio, Inc., with out addressing any of the present issues and social debates surrounding generative AI. We sincerely apologize for the priority we have triggered.”
Whereas it specified that its merchandise do not use artwork created by generative AI and that it holds “within the highest regard those that love video games, in addition to the dignity, ardour, and coronary heart of the creators and artists who act because the architects of gaming tradition,” Cygames mentioned that it “will not implement generative AI into our merchandise with out prior discover.”
Unsurprisingly, promising to offer a warning earlier than you continue to do the factor your followers are upset about is not a dedication that evokes a lot confidence—significantly when, as customers rapidly observed, the Cygames profession web site presently lists openings for generative AI-related engineer and artist positions.
The information of Cygames’ AI pivot is not solely shocking, as its guardian firm CyberAgent has been leaning into an AI-heavy technique lately. CyberAgent has maintained an “AI Lab” R&D division since 2016, and in 2023 the corporate introduced the formation of one more AI-focused division engaged on implementing generative AI in animation and recreation improvement.
Whereas AI utilization has been spreading all through the video games trade, Japanese builders have appeared much less shy in declaring their curiosity within the expertise, with main publishers like Sq. Enix brazenly committing to generative AI methods and over 50% of Japanese recreation corporations responding in a 2025 survey that they are utilizing AI in recreation improvement.