Smash Bros and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai has participated in an interview with Japanese news publication Denfaminico Gamer during which the talented video game producer touches on a number of subjects including the growing use of AI in video game development. Mr. Sakurai believes that the increasing use of AI in games design is going to inevitably lead to a slew of unoriginal and unprofitable games flood the market. Here’s what he said via machine translation:
“19,000 is amazing, but I think that number will increase even more from now on. I’m sure of it. That’s because AI will increase the number. However, I think most of them will become “unprofitable titles.” There are too many to keep track of, and it’s impossible to understand them all.
When it comes to things created with AI… or things mass-produced with poor quality, I think most of them will simply be reproductions of systems seen in various other games . I think there are already a lot of those now.”
He is the literal GOAT, like he has never made a bad game, always listens to fans, he made Kirby Air Riders which fixed most critisms from the original game and it was a complete experience at launch, and he is just a nice silly guy.
Man is only green flags. Sakurai til I die
I agree with Sakurai.
What’s funny is that this isn’t really about AI. AI will just help more people develop more games faster. And most games are just kinda bad, buggy, and/or copies of other popular games. The ratio of good vs bad games is going to remain relatively the same but AI is just increasing the total output now.
In fact, click on the original article (and use AI tools to translate it, ironically) and you’ll see the question was about total number of games published on steam (19,000) and Sakurai saying “that number will probably increase due to AI.” Now, he makes a good point later in the article too about how AI can only iterate on what’s already been made before and can’t make something new.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the first good game made with AI (and this is publicly disclosed) will do. In a way, they’re testing the waters now with all the new crossover mods made possible with AI. There’s some who wash their hands with it and others who don’t really care because it’s something cool they want to play. Also will be interested to see if mediocre games NOT made with AI (and marketed as such) will get a little boost or just release to status quo
I know this guy well on.hoe he does things because he never made any bad games. Not even once. I’m glad he comment on the AI usage situation which is on the rise right now.
Goat