Square Enix has announced plans to massively use AI in development processes, intending to entrust up to 70% of quality control and bug fixing operations to it.
But not everyone in the industry shares this approach. Michael Douse, head of Larian Studios, the developers of Baldur’s Gate 3, sharply criticized the initiative on X, calling it "stupid" and potentially harmful to the industry. According to him, the testing department is one of the most involved and stable in any game company. Testers don't just fix bugs, they act as a link to the community, providing real feedback and understanding the quality of the game before a wide audience.
Douse emphasizes that AI and automation are useful as tools, but cannot replace people. "The opinion, conversation, and sensitivity of testers cannot be reproduced by an algorithm," he writes. Also, testers traditionally serve as the entry door to game design, training future lead designers in game mechanics and balance. By excluding this opportunity, companies lose a talent pool.
According to Douse, games cannot be perceived only through data, as understanding them requires intuition, empathy, and human judgment, which AI cannot replicate.
