Vast majority of game developers use AI, Google says

New research from Google Cloud shows that 90% of game developers use artificial intelligence (AI) in their work – but do they have a choice?

Video game developers are increasingly relying on AI as the industry grapples with rising costs, market saturation, and players gravitating towards older games, according to Google.

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, found that an overwhelming majority of developers believe generative AI is already reshaping the industry, with 97% of respondents saying so.

Most said they used it for automating repetitive tasks and researching new gameplay possibilities, including new mechanics and new genres. Some said they use it for things like code generation, script support, and translation.

"The survey results underscore a clear message: AI is no longer a futuristic concept for the games industry – it's a present-day reality that's driving innovation and changing the very nature of how games are made and played," said Jack Buser, global director of Google Cloud’s games division, which makes AI tools for developers.

"From creating more responsive and immersive player experiences, to accelerating development cycles, generative AI is empowering developers to push creative boundaries and build the next generation of games."

This rosy view is not necessarily shared across the industry. Google’s survey shows the vast majority of developers using AI in their workflow, but some may do so because they have no choice.

Coders, including those in the games industry, report becoming “code editors” as their companies adopt new AI tools, leaving them to supervise and proofread the machines’ work.

Others, like in many other industries, are worried AI will replace them – and some already have been. Microsoft recently laid off over 9,000 employees, or about 4% of its workforce, which affected numerous teams within its Xbox division and resulted in abandoned games.

Microsoft’s developer division president, Julia Liuson, said in an internal memo that “using AI is no longer optional,” describing it as a fundamental facet of working for the tech giant.

Meanwhile, a senior Xbox executive caused a controversy with a LinkedIn post suggesting laid-off employees use AI to find new jobs, a message many observers noted was itself likely written by AI.

Other companies are also cutting jobs, even while profitable, as they realign strategies around AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that AI would eliminate entire job categories.