Nintendo recently shut down rumors of AI-generated art in Mario Kart World after fans noticed some truly odd billboards—think giant windows and pepperoni-shaped wheels—during a Treehouse livestream. The internet buzzed with wild theories, but Nintendo assured everyone that actual humans, not rogue AI, made the visuals. It turns out the lower-quality billboards were probably just placeholders. Curious whether the $80 price tag and quirky upgrades are worth it? Stick around to catch more behind-the-scenes quirks.
Nintendo has put the brakes on recent AI rumors, clearing up speculation about the art in Mario Kart World. The company stepped in after eagle-eyed fans noticed some curious billboards during a Nintendo Treehouse livestream. These weren’t the usual Mushroom Kingdom fare—think cars with oversized windows, or wheels that looked more like pepperoni slices than tires. The oddities sent fans into a digital tailspin, many suspecting this was the handiwork of AI image generators.
It didn’t take long for the chatter to get loud enough for Nintendo to respond. Speaking to Eurogamer, Nintendo issued a clear denial: no AI-generated images were used in the development of Mario Kart World. If you were hoping for a secret robot artist behind the scenes, you’re out of luck. The development team aims to protect their reputation amidst the controversy, making it clear they want to maintain trust with fans. Nintendo emphasized that Mario Kart World does not include AI-generated images, addressing the heart of the speculation.
Nintendo quickly shut down the rumors, assuring fans that Mario Kart World’s visuals are entirely human-made—no AI artists in the mix.
So, what was up with those weird billboards? Some believe they were merely placeholder art or unfinished designs, not the work of an AI bent on confusing kart racers everywhere. Digital Foundry, known for its technical thorough explorations, even pointed out that the lower-quality images were probably just stand-ins. In other words, nothing to see here—move along, folks.
Despite this, a handful of fans weren’t convinced. They worried about authenticity, arguing that AI art could dilute the series’ signature charm. But, at least for now, Nintendo has promised to keep its creative process human-powered.
Of course, all this comes alongside other talking points: the game’s $80 price tag, no option to turn off course hazards, and new open-world features. Some fans are scratching their heads, others are already preordering. You can’t please everyone, right?
Nintendo seems keen on transparency, addressing rumors quickly, if not always to universal applause. Their stance on AI art suggests a commitment to traditional design—though who knows what the future holds? Maybe one day Toad will be replaced by a chatbot.
For now, though, Mario Kart World remains the product of flesh-and-blood developers, with all the quirks, upgrades, and new surprises that come with it. The game launches June 5, and if the billboards are still weird, at least we understand who to blame.