Peter Smith
A technology opening new creative horizons
In an era saturated with sprawling open worlds and multiplayer copycats that seem only designed for player retention, many titles are heavily criticized for feeling hollow, with vast maps populated by lifeless crowds and NPCs stuck in pre-scripted routines. To counter this fatigue, major industry players such as Microsoft are turning to generative AI to produce more natural-sounding dialogue and voice-driven interactions that adapt in real time to a player’s tone and choices.
Ubisoft has experimented with AI tools to assist writers in generating barks and quest variations, while Blizzard Entertainment has leveraged the technology to streamline time-consuming tasks, such as the upscaling of old textures. Startups like InWorldAI are also driving innovation, embracing large language models to create NPCs whose personalities, memories, and emotional responses evolve with each individual player’s actions.
The next frontier for gaming graphics
As transformative as it is behind the scenes, AI is also reshaping the visual side of development. The technology is being used to design gaming assets, with tools such as Tencent’s Hunyuan 3D engine helping developers generate high-quality 3D models from text descriptions, images, or sketches in minutes rather than days.
At the indie and solo-developer level, platforms like Meshy AI are lowering barriers to entry as creators can turn simple prompts or reference images into fully textured 3D assets with a library of ready-to-use animations, then export them in formats compatible with major game engines without needing deep modelling expertise.
On the facial animation front, AI-driven techniques and machine-learning-powered motion capture are being incorporated into production pipelines to generate more lifelike expressions and record high-fidelity human movement with fewer resources. Yet, this technological shift is fueling tensions within the industry.
Dissenting voices speaking out
The unstoppable rise of AI is intensifying fears of job displacement in the acting world, particularly as game studios experiment with voice cloning and synthetic performances. Actors have warned how easily their voices can be scraped and reused without consent, prompting some like Cissy Jones to co-found Morpheme, a startup aiming to promote more ethical uses of vocal AI.
Others like Baldur’s Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon have taken a firmer stance, publicly rejecting the use of AI in performance. Meanwhile, unions are fighting back against the normalization of AI tools. These concerns culminated in collective action, with thousands of SAG-AFTRA members ending an 11-month strike after securing protections on consent, transparency, and the use of AI-generated digital replicas for game performers.
Beyond industry professionals, AI adoption is under fire amongst players themselves. Arc Raiders became a flashpoint in the AI debate after gamers lambasted its reported use of AI-generated elements. Anno 117 also drew criticism when an AI-generated loading screen made it into its final release. Such reactions highlight a growing distrust among audiences who fear that automation could erode the human touch that defines the gaming experience.
An inexorable evolution?
The controversy surrounding AI use has prompted creators to speak out on its inevitability. Kingdome Come: Deliverance II director Daniel Vávra defended his peers from Larian amid backlash over the studio using generative AI to create placeholder text and concept art for Divinity. Vávra called the outrage “AI hysteria,” arguing that the industry must accept the technology’s role in modern development. Even Expedition 33 producer admitted to employing AI for the latest GOTY.
Hammering the point home, a Google survey shows that AI has become deeply embedded in game development, with nearly nine in ten developers using AI agents to automate routine tasks. Meanwhile, AI effectively creates safer gaming environments. Whether to counter fraud or improve verification checks, online casinos are leveraging AI to ensure fair play. Specialized websites further guide newcomers by recommending licensed casinos only. They identify the most reliable promotions provided by regulated operators, such as free spins and sign-up offers. From free-to-play to real-money options, players can explore extensive game libraries without registering or downloading anything.
While AI may pose a threat to human talent, the technology can also free developers to focus on storytelling and design. Incidentally, industry leaders stress that AI in game development shall complement human creativity, not replace it.
Peter Smith
