December 4, 2024 – In a recent interview with BBC, Hermen Hulst, the Co-CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, discussed the profound impact of artificial intelligence on the gaming industry. Hulst believes that while AI has the potential to “revolutionize” the field of gaming, human involvement in the development process remains essential.
According to Hulst, “The gaming industry may simultaneously cater to two demands: the need for innovative experiences driven by AI and the desire for carefully crafted manual content. The key lies in utilizing AI technology while maintaining human-centered design.”
However, Sony did not respond to rumors about the development of a new handheld console during the interview, which was conducted to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation brand.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by market research company CIST on behalf of game engine developer Unity reveals that nearly two-thirds of game development studios have introduced AI technology into their workflows this year.
Unity stated, “62% of the studios surveyed reported using artificial intelligence primarily for rapid prototyping, concept design, material creation, and game world building.” Among the studios that have adopted AI, 71% believe it has significantly improved development efficiency and operational performance.
Data from Unity also shows that the average development cycle for games has increased from 218 days in 2022 to 304 days in 2023.
The remaining 38% of studios are taking a wait-and-see approach to AI. Of these, 43% expressed interest in trying it but lacked sufficient time to invest, while another 24% felt they did not have the necessary technical capabilities.
