Gaming industry veterans Yoshinori Kitase, Hiromichi Tanaka, and Koichi Ishii, known for their work on the Final Fantasy and Mana series, shared their thoughts on the impact of generative artificial intelligence on game development. According to them, AI will make game creation more accessible and speed up many processes, but human creativity will remain irreplaceable.
In an interview with the Japanese publication Famitsu, timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the Mana series, the developers discussed how the industry has changed over recent decades and what skills game creators will need in the future.
Hiromichi Tanaka believes that the ability to work with artificial intelligence will become one of the key skills for developers.
In the near future, everything will definitely depend on how well people can master the use of AI.
Kitase agreed that artificial intelligence will be used increasingly actively in development, but emphasized the need for a conscious approach to the new technology. Tanaka, in particular, drew attention to copyright issues when generating graphics. At the same time, AI is already noticeably changing workflows in programming, and independent developers are successfully using it in their projects.
According to Tanaka, this will lead to an increase in the number of indie games and force major companies to reconsider traditional production methods. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to adapt to the ongoing changes.
Kitase noted that game development became more accessible even before the widespread adoption of AI, thanks to engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity. They allow small teams to create games without spending time and resources on developing their own engine. The new tools further lower the barrier to entry: even people with little experience can now try their hand at development and bring their own project to completion.
However, the accessibility of technology does not eliminate the need for original ideas. Kitase believes that human imagination will continue to determine the value of games in the future.
Humans must be involved in the initial stage of turning a zero into a one. That will never change. It is absolutely essential for the next generation of developers to know how to turn a zero into a one.
With this phrase, Kitase described the difference between creating a fundamentally new idea and its subsequent implementation. During the interview, he specifically praised Koichi Ishii for his ability to come up with something completely new when creating games in the Mana series. According to him, finding an original concept requires time, inspiration, and out-of-the-box thinking.
Tanaka agreed with his colleague and suggested that in the future, the gaming industry will become even more of a “competition of ideas”.
At the same time, Kitase does not believe that AI should stay out of production. On the contrary, he sees the technology as an opportunity to relieve developers of some of the routine work.
If we can increase efficiency in the process of turning a one into a hundred by supplementing traditional human labor with the support of AI and game engines, I think people will be able to focus more on the initial stage of turning a zero into a one.
Ishii, for his part, expressed enthusiasm about using AI for rapid prototyping. In his view, the technology will allow developers to test ideas faster, try out different options, and refine game mechanics.
At the same time, Ishii warned against fully handing over the creative process to artificial intelligence. He believes that humans should be responsible for both the beginning and the completion of development.
If AI does everything on its own, the result may look polished, but it might lack human warmth.