The use of generative AI for game development has become a hot-button issue these days, and recently, several studios have come out to state that they are not using those tools for their projects. Bethesda Game Studios is now joining the ranks, with studio lead Todd Howard making a statement in an interview with Kinda Funny Games, which you can check out below.
When asked about using generative AI, Howard said that the company is being conservative with its approach to the technology. Rather than using it to generate any art for development, Bethesda is instead looking at it as a tool for data analysis. As for the artistic parts, he noted that the “element of artistic intention” is “essential”.
“For us, we’re being incredibly cautious,” said Howard. “[We’re] kind of viewing [it] as a tool, like an analyst, to look at the data in our games. We’re not using it to generate anything. I think there’s an element of artistic intention that is essential to what we do and what others do.”
“You can’t ignore it, in terms of its coming, it’s changing, every few months there’s a new model, particularly in the tech side with code or productivity or other things,” he continued. “I would just say we’re looking at that stuff, we’re not fully ignoring it, because where it can help us get better at some big data tasks that just take us a lot of time, that we just wish were done now, so we can move on to the creative stuff, that’s kinda where our heads are.”
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick had similarly noted that Rockstar Games isn’t using generative AI for the creative parts of Grand Theft Auto 6‘s development. While he acknowledged being enthusiastic for the technology, the company has instead been using it as a tool.
“On the topic of AI, I’ve been enthusiastic since the very beginning,” he said. “This company’s products have always been built with machine learning and artificial intelligence. We’ve actually always been a leader in the space, and right now we have hundreds of pilots and implementations across our company, including within our studios. And we’re already seeing instances where generative AI tools are driving costs and time efficiencies.”
As for Grand Theft Auto 6, he said, “AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building. Their worlds are handcrafted. That’s what differentiates them. They’re built from the ground up, building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. They’re not procedurally generated; they shouldn’t be. That’s what makes great entertainment.”
Larian Studios has also confirmed that it is refraining from the use of generative AI tools for the development of Divinity. During a Reddit AMA, studio founder and CEO Swen Vincke noted that, while there have been discussions about using AI tools, to ensure “there is no room for doubt,” the studio decided to refrain from using them even during the creation of concept art.
A Krafton spokesperson has similarly noted that generative AI is not being used in the creation of art or narrative in Project Windless.
