Tech and AI Advancements Will Enable “More Evocative Storytelling” in Games, PlayStation Exec Says

In an interview published on Sony’s official website, PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash spoke about the company bringing more TV and movie adaptations of PlayStation IPs. In the interview, Qizilbash also spoke about the wider impact he expects advancements in tech and AI to have on games, something that he seemingly feels will be most keenly felt in the storytelling department.

As per Qizilbash, tech and AI improvements will enable developers to tell much more “evocative” stories, and for games as a whole to become “more personalized” experiences.

“In terms of gaming’s future, I envision games becoming more personalized due to advances in technology and AI, enabling customized experiences for each player,” Qizilbash said. “Moreover, technological advancements will enhance emotional depth in games by allowing characters to be much more emotive and expressive, fostering more evocative storytelling. That’s going to help a whole generation of creators be able to just create so much more emotion in the stories.”

Qizilbash also talked about how, rather than focusing more on visual fidelity, future projects will start emphasizing their narratives.

“The focus is going to shift from graphics or visuals to immersive narratives that resonate long after the controller is set down,” he said. “Regarding PlayStation’s role in this evolution, I see it as a destination defined by community and a commitment to quality, unexpected and memorable experiences.”

Qizilbash also spoke about the role of technology when it comes to telling stories, and how new technologies will shape things going forward. He also went on to talk about how advancement in various new technologies, like AI, will allow for more personalized experiences being created.

“Advancements in AI will create more personalized experiences and meaningful stories for consumers,” he said. “For instance, NPCs (Non Player Characters) in games could interact with players based on their actions, making it feel more personal. This is important for the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are the first generations that grew up digitally and are looking for personalization across everything, as well as looking for experiences to have more meaning.”

Qizilbash spoke about a few other subjects, including educational initiatives, before capping off the interview by talking about the role of PlayStation Productions in the larger entertainment market, stating that he sees the company “as a beacon of unexpected, memorable, and entertaining storytelling.”

PlayStation Productions is the part of the company that oversees TV and film adaptations of various PlayStation properties. Its most critically-acclaimed outing so far has been the TV adaptation of The Last of Us, which is currently gearing up for its second season.