Although we have officially entered 2026, controversies surrounding generative AI show no signs of abating. In the gaming industry, for example, its use—whether in marketing, actual production, or even behind-the-scenes support—can spark backlash. Surprisingly, however, Nintendo appears to have recently been drawn into a similar controversy.
Just last week, Nintendo unveiled a new line of infant and toddler products called “My Mario.” According to the company, this is a new line of products inspired by *Mario* and other characters from the “Mushroom Kingdom,” offering young children and their parents a unique play and interactive experience. However, the source of the controversy this time is not the products themselves, but rather the promotional images released by the company.
Introducing My Mario, a collection of products, games, and experiences inspired by Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom friends, designed for young children and their parents. Select My Mario products will be available at Nintendo NEW YORK and Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO on Feb 19. pic.twitter.com/Dazl6sHLM9
— Nintendo NY | SAN FRANCISCO (@NintendoStoreUS) January 8, 2026
Shortly after Nintendo officially unveiled this product line, many gamers noticed some very strange details in the sample images posted below the announcement—such as the model’s fingers appearing transparent and even twisted at rather odd angles—which sparked speculation on social media that the images were AI-generated.
Everyone’s talking about the one thumb but this one’s also abnormally long and weird (fingers too) pic.twitter.com/HZtBKm1HJK
— Yelowin (@Yelowin1) January 10, 2026
However, as the debate heated up, a model named Brittoni O’myah Sinclair—who claims to have participated in the photo shoot for this series—came forward to deny that Nintendo used generative AI, assuring players that that this series of photos was definitely not created by AI, but rather the result of actual photography. Under the official post, a netizen also demonstrated that, from a specific shooting angle, a finger can indeed be bent like that. Furthermore, Nintendo officials directly emphasized to the website *DeFelice* that these images did not use any generative AI technology.
Brittoni O’myah Sinclair, one of the models in Nintendo’s My Mario campaign, denies using Gen AI in the promo material. pic.twitter.com/awyNxXwJLa
— Robert DeFelice (@dudefelice) January 10, 2026
— André (@AndreSegers) January 10, 2026
As for the truth of the matter, opinions remain divided, but one thing is certain: generative AI tools are still unpopular among gamers, even though major game developers are eager to experiment with the technology. For example, several game companies, including EA and Square Enix, publicly stated last year that they would become more actively involved in the development and exploration of AI technology.
Even Larian Studios, the developer behind *Baldur’s Gate 3*, recently confirmed that it will use AI technology to assist with concept art and other more labor-intensive tasks for the upcoming installment in the *Divinity: Original Sin* series. Although they emphasized in a subsequent statement that the final product will absolutely not contain any content generated using AI technology, this does not mean they will not explore such possibilities in the future. Whether or not you believe Nintendo’s explanation, it appears—at least for now—that they have managed to steer clear of this controversy.
Source: KOCPC Chinese