The Japanese video
game industry has taken a decisive step towards automation and advanced
technology. Cygames, the giant behind cultural phenomena such
as Umamusume: Pretty Derby and Granblue Fantasy,
has confirmed on January 9, 2026 the founding of a new
independent entity: Cygames AI Studio, Inc.
What exactly
is this new study?
According to the
official press release, this new division has an ambitious but somewhat
ambiguous mission: to develop and provide AI-powered tools and
services for "creative production." The company describes generative
AI as a key technology capable of turning accumulated knowledge into
"the driving force behind the next wave of creativity."
Unlike other
studios that simply license existing tools, Cygames seems to
be aiming to develop its own AI models. The stated goal is to deliver tools
that can be used "safely and reliably" by creators on production
sites, prioritizing trust and security.
The Mystery
of Implementation
What's unclear is
how this will affect the games we love. Will we see NPCs with infinite
AI-generated dialogue in the next Umamusume update? Or are
they simply internal tools to speed up texture and code creation?
Cygames claims
that it seeks to build a "unique creative cycle," but keeps the
specific details under lock and key. In a context where it is estimated that a
large percentage of modern games already use some form of AI assistance (from
hacking detection to asset generation), Cygames' move legitimizes the
technology at the highest corporate level in Japan.
