AI has already become an integral part of video game development, yet far from all studios are ready to speak openly about it. This was stated in an interview with Mobilegamer.biz by Jack Buser, director of gaming for the cloud division of Google Cloud.
According to him, today virtually every major game studio uses tools based on artificial intelligence, but many prefer not to disclose this fact due to fears of a negative audience reaction. This primarily refers to auxiliary solutions such as Gemini and Nano Banana Pro, which help automate routine and low-significance tasks in development.
Buser claims that players are already interacting with projects created with the use of AI without even realizing it. According to the results of a survey conducted among developers during Gamescom, about 90% of studios confirmed using such technologies. At the same time, other studies show more modest figures, at the level of 40-50%. He explains the difference by developers' reluctance to publicly acknowledge the use of AI.
The top manager is confident that players' attitudes will change when they realize the advantages: faster development, a growing number of releases, and a higher level of experimentation. In his opinion, the use of AI allows studios to release more projects within the same time frame without fearing risks, since not every one of them has to become a hit.
As an example, Buser cited Capcom. It uses Google tools to generate ideas and pre-select secondary environment elements, for example, objects like rocks or vegetation. This allows artists to focus on key aspects - characters, enemies, and main scenes.
At the same time, Capcom itself had previously clarified that it does not plan to directly use assets created by generative AI in its games. Instead, the company is testing various approaches to applying the technology in graphics, sound, and programming in order to increase development efficiency and productivity.