Shigeru Miyamoto to receive Japan's highest cultural honor from the Emperor
Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto will be honored with Japan's Order of Culture next month, as reported by IGN. He is the first video game creator ever to receive the award, which the Emperor of Japan presents to individuals for exceptional cultural achievements. The ceremony is set for November 3, the national Culture Day holiday.
At a press conference, Miyamoto expressed humility about the award. "I feel incredibly awkward but truly honored," he said, per IGN. He credited his collaborators, stating the honor was the result of working with many people and that he would accept it on their behalf.
In the same press event, covered by Eurogamer, Miyamoto shared his perspective on generative AI in game development. He suggested that if AI handles more labor, it could allow creators to focus on what's truly important. He argued that work created merely by copying rarely lasts, and that a designer's specific intent is crucial. "I believe that... even if AI were to eventually handle everything, there will always be a role left for us to play," he said, according to a translation by VGC.
His comments contrast with some industry peers, like Masahiro Sakurai, who has expressed concerns about a potential flood of unoriginal AI-assisted games. Nintendo has previously stated its commitment to keeping a "human touch" in its games, as noted by Eurogamer, while other major studios have been more aggressive in adopting AI tools.
