A new study from the Game Developers Conference found that the majority of developers work at studios that use generative AI in their games. However, a third of those surveyed have negative views on the technology and its impact on game developers, including mass layoffs.
A new study from the Game Developers Conference found that the majority of developers work at studios that use generative AI in their games. However, a third of those surveyed have negative views on the technology and its impact on game developers, including mass layoffs.
Of the 3,000 people surveyed, about half said they were concerned about the technology’s impact on the industry, and a growing number reported having a generally negative view of artificial intelligence, according to the «State of the Gaming Industry» study, which is based on a survey from organizers of the annual GDC conference, Wired reports.
«I have a PhD in artificial intelligence, and worked on some algorithms used in generative AI. I deeply regret how naively I offered my contribution,» one of the developers noted.
About 30% of developers surveyed said they have a negative view of AI, up from 18% last year; only 13% believe AI has a positive impact on gaming, up from 21% in 2024.
«No matter what you say, generative AI is not a great replacement for real people, and the quality will be reduced,» believes another developer.
In theory, generative AI could help some developers lighten their workload. But that’s not happening. Instead, developers are reportedly working longer hours than they have in years. 13% of respondents reported working more than 51 hours a week, up from 8% last year.
According to respondents, AI can help developers solve several tasks, including coding, creating concepts and 3D models, but when asked what applications they see for AI in the industry, «the most common answer was 'none,'» the GDC organizers write.
While these extra hours could be attributed to developers taking on extra work to compensate for the loss of colleagues during mass layoffs in 2024, many are concerned that AI is also a factor.
«We should use generative AI to help people do their jobs faster, not lose them,» one employee wrote.
A number of developers have lost their jobs in recent years, and many have reported difficulty finding new ones. Some said they are still out of work more than a year later, and one said he had applied for 500 jobs to no avail.
«I’ve been laid off before, but this was the longest I’ve been job hunting. It was scary, and my life was turned upside down,» wrote one developer.
«I’ve been laid off three times in the last year. The first two times, I was able to find a job. My current studio just laid everyone off. I’ve only been there for four months and I haven’t found anything yet,» shared another game developer.
Another said he was able to quickly find another job in a better position, while another said his new job was «much worse in terms of pay.»
The developers blame issues such as over-expansion after Covid-19, unrealistic expectations for the game’s success, and poor leadership and management.
«In this industry, we set unrealistic goals and then fire everyone if they turn out to be unrealistic. We need to apply lean and flexible processes instead of shooting for the moon every time,» one interviewee pointed out.
Recall that in 2023, an estimated 10,000 developers lost their jobs across the gaming industry. Amazon and TikTok owner ByteDance have reduced their gaming divisions, while Epic Games (Fortnite), Ubisoft (Assassin’s Creed), and Niantic (Pokemon Go) have announced layoffs.
In 2024, over 14,000 developers were laid off — with employees at Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Creative Assembly, TakeTwo Interactive, Tango GameWorks, Firewalk Studios, Ubisoft, and People Can Fly Studios being the hardest hit.
