Veteran game artist Kazuma Kaneko, best known for his iconic work on the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona franchises, has confirmed that his next project will not use generative AI. The announcement follows criticism surrounding his 2025 title Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter, which featured AI-generated card artwork and received mixed reactions from players.
Kaneko shared the update in response to a fan on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that he is preparing a new project at mobile game developer COLOPL. According to a translation by Automaton, he clarified that while his previous game incorporated AI systems, he personally did not rely on generative AI to create his own illustrations.
“While I did participate in the development of a game that uses AI mechanics, I did not use AI for my own artwork.”
Kaneko returns to traditional artwork
Before joining COLOPL, Kaneko spent decades at Atlus, where he became one of the industry’s most recognizable artists through his demon designs for Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and later Metaphor: ReFantazio. He has also contributed artwork to series such as Devil May Cry 3 and Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner.
Ahead of the launch of Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter, Kaneko admitted that using AI offered fewer advantages than expected. Speaking about the development process, he said:
“To be honest, it’s quicker for me to draw it myself from start to finish.”
The game trained its AI model using artwork Kaneko created during his time at COLOPL rather than his earlier Atlus illustrations, an approach intended to avoid copyright concerns.
Despite those precautions, Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter received a Mixed rating on Steam, with many players criticizing the AI-generated visuals. Some reviewers described the artwork as inconsistent, while others questioned whether AI-generated images had begun resembling copyrighted characters from well-known franchises.
Earlier this year, COLOPL also released Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi on Nintendo Switch. Unlike the original version, the offline release removed the AI image generation system while retaining some previously created artwork.
Kaneko’s latest comments suggest his upcoming project will rely entirely on traditional illustration, a move likely to be welcomed by longtime fans who have admired his distinctive art style for decades.
