AI in game development has been an ongoing debate since 2021. Some think it increases productivity and creativity, while others are skeptical. But, according to recet report by the Game Developers Council (GDC), that attitude is shifting, and towards the negative side.
The survey, based on 2300 responses from industry professional suggest that the debate around Generative AI in games is moving towards outright criticism. Developers are openly critical about AI in game development and believe that AI is having a negative impact on the industry.
What The Survey Found
The most shocking statistic from the survey is that 52% of developers said that Generative AI is harming the games industry. This number has gone up significantly from previous years. It was 30% the previous year and 18% before that. Just 7 percent view the impact of generative AI positively, indicating a steep drop in optimism.
These numbers show what developers think about AI in game development. Even though the usage of AI in game development has only gone up in the past few years (36% as of the current report), the sentiment around AI has only gotten worse. Even Razer’s CEO voiced his opinion on AI in gaming.
According to the report, the most common use cases for AI are research and brainstorming, prototyping, writing emails, and code assistance. Thankfully, player-facing features are still not made by AI as much. According to the survey, only 5% of developers use AI for player-facing features and 19% for asset generation. This shows that AI is still used behind the scenes to increase productivity, and the creative part is still done by developers.
Several factors help explain the rising skepticism. Some developers worry that AI‑generated content can lower overall quality, produce generic or derivative assets. On the other hand, some are worried that it can raise ethical and legal questions around intellectual property and bias. These concerns have become louder as AI tools become more popular, but also more controversial in how they are used.
As time passes, AI will become an even more integral part of game development. Many studios and indie devs are opting for AI to help make games faster. But it has also raised concerns for the future of the industry.
