It’s starting to feel like we’re in bizarro land when Konami, of all companies, is making sense about generative AI usage in game development. In its latest fiscal earnings report, Konami president/CEO Hideki Hayakawa addressed the company’s concerns about the rise of generative AI and how it might impact game development. While not completely dismissing the technology, Hayakawa stated, “Even if AI use does lead to improvements in production efficiency, I believe that the most important factors in producing entertaining and innovative video games are people and creators.”
It’s hard to deny that AI has made it “easier” for people to “create” games, but Hayakawa says, “I don’t think the market environment will change drastically.” His reasoning is that the evolution of general purpose engines (i.e. Unity, Godot, etc.) has already lowered the barrier for entry for people looking to get into game creation. He also rightfully points to the introduction of UGC (user generated content) in games such as Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft, which allows players to create new experiences through existing tools. To him, the people behind those new ideas is what is more important.
Hayakawa brings up the fact that games in the modern era are made with large teams of people contributing to different elements. These creators bring their different backgrounds and perspectives to games, which is something AI cannot do. “That kind of chemical reaction is not something that can be easily replaced,” Hayakawa states. To him, the blending of multiple ideas is what will truly push game development forward.
Still, Hayakawa views any type of technological advancement as a net good, and does believe that the proliferation of generative AI could lead to newer experiences. “Even when it comes to epoch-making technological innovations, Konami provides systematic support so that creators can get a grasp of new technologies, properly assess the risks they may bring, and safely apply them to game development,” Hayakawa notes. That’s far from decrying the introduction AI, but at least the company isn’t shoving it into places where it makes no sense.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
