A new survey has yielded some interesting results showing that online game developers in Japan have no qualms about using generative AI to produce games domestically. A recent survey from the Japan Online Game Association (JOGA), via VGC, shows that 100% of the game companies that participated reported they use generative AI tools. When asked how they were being used, it was claimed that these tools are primarily used for analyzing user behaviour and preferences. It’s somewhat well known that a company may not rely on just one set of tools but may, in fact, utilize several to get the job done. Tallies of the companies surveyed showed that Google’s Gemini is the preferred choice with up to 94% usage, with Anthropic’s Claude at 84%, and GitHub Copilot at 76%.
One of the biggest concerns among developers with the use of Generative AI is potential copyright infringement due to assets being used by the AI without permission from their owners. While a quick and easy way to produce content, there can be ethical issues if the results are not closely scrutinized before being used. It’s been claimed that many other companies are already using generative AI to help create games but are just not admitting to it due to potential backlash from the gaming community. Some are said to use these tools to reduce or remove the most mundane tasks in game development. According to Google Cloud’s global director for games, Jack Buser, 9 out of 10 developers said in a survey at last year’s Gamescom that they were already using it. However, there’s a disparity when it comes to the more public surveys, and he explains this by the following:
“Now you’ll see other surveys from other organisations that have that more around like 40-50%. And you might ask yourself, well, that’s still a large number. It’s still almost half of the developers out there. What’s that gap? And that gap is basically the developers’ willingness to tell you whether the fact of the matter is it’s being used.”
– Jack Buser, Google Cloud Director for Games
So the short end of it is, don’t believe the hype if a developer says it’s not using generative AI. Most are admitting they are using it for repetitive tasks to optimize the use of human talent for more important goals. Some state they are only using it for bookkeeping or other data tracking types of tasks, while smaller studios claim to not use it at all. Love it or hate it, it is the age of AI, and you never truly know where it could be lurking, but surveys like these are showing its use has become more prevalent than some may have expected.
Discussion (2 replies)
Join Discussion →I really like how Valve forces devs to disclose their use of LLMs/"AI". That way we know who to avoid giving money to. I wish all devs across all platforms were forced to do the same.
It really depemds on where it is used. Creating the art I am fully against. As a tool to assist in writing dead ass boring code loops that are pure tedium I am against. Random placement of tree rock and grass assets on a mountain.. sure... humans can tweak that. Creating a mountain range Vista and capturing the awe in seeing it for the first time... no.
Use case is important.