Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the global gaming industry but while it promises faster production and creative innovation, many game developers fear it could eventually cost them their careers.
According to Mike Cook, a game designer and computer science lecturer at King’s College London, AI is “used far more in commercial game development than people realise,” though mostly for minor tasks such as dubbing, illustration, or coding assistance. He added that these AI-driven contributions are often invisible to players in the final version of the game.
A study by Totally Human Media, a U.S. based startup, revealed that nearly 20% of games launched this year on Steam including blockbusters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Inzoi used generative AI during their development phase.
AI consultants predict massive productivity boosts. Davy Chadwick, an AI expert, said studios could see a 30-40% increase in output, as new tools allow developers to merge multiple job roles. Advanced software can now create 3D characters or objects instantly from a simple text prompt a process that once required weeks and thousands of dollars.
Ethan Hu, founder of California-based Meshy.ai, explained, “Creating a high-quality 3D model used to take two weeks and cost $1,000. Now it takes one minute and $2.” His platform already serves over five million users.
Major companies are racing to adopt this shift. Electronic Arts (EA) has partnered with Stability AI, while Microsoft is developing its own AI model, Muse. The global gaming industry, valued at $190 billion in 2025 (Newzoo data), sees enormous potential to reduce production costs and speed up game development.
However, the excitement is mixed with anxiety. A developer at a French game studio, requesting anonymity, said, “AI tools are supposed to make us more productive but could ultimately mean job losses.” He added that AI-generated 3D models often appear “chaotic” and require significant rework making them “a deal-breaker for now.”
This growing uncertainty has made many major gaming giants including Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft, and Quantic Dream reluctant to publicly discuss their use of AI.
Some experts, however, see AI as an enhancer rather than a threat. Felix Balmonet, co-founder of Chat3D, said these tools “don’t replace artists but speed up their creative process by automating repetitive work.” His startup already collaborates with “two of the five largest studios in the world.”
Still, not everyone is convinced. A French studio head, who recently finished a multi-year project “without AI,” admitted, “We might not have a choice next time avoiding AI could mean falling out of the competition.”
Gamers, too, remain cautious. 11 Bit Studios faced backlash when its new release The Alters accidentally included unlabelled AI generated text. Though the studio clarified it was a placeholder, the reaction highlighted how much players still value human creativity.
As AI continues to advance, the gaming industry stands at a crossroads between technological innovation and the human artistry that gives games their soul.
