The father of Kirby and Super Smash Bros. warns that the AAA game industry has a serious problem, and his proposed solution is somewhat controversial. The AAA video game industry is not sustainable, and Masahiro Sakurai’s solution to this problem is generative AI.

The video game industry is in rough shape right now. Thousands have lost their jobs, games are getting canceled, and studios are shutting down in record numbers post-pandemic. But there’s an even bigger threat: the modern AAA blockbuster. Big-budget games can now cost hundreds of millions and take five years or more to create. If this trend continues, the entire business model could collapse—and key industry voices are sounding the alarm.

Masahiro Sakurai, the creative mind behind Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, says the current AAA model simply isn’t sustainable. His proposed solution? It’s sure to stir controversy. In a recent interview, the Japanese designer called generative AI “the only effective advance” to keep AAA development afloat. “I think we’ve reached a point where it’s not sustainable to try to produce games on the large scale we’re currently doing,” he explained.

“These AAA games are so labor intensive. I feel like we can’t continue like this, but the only effective advancement I can think of right now is generative AI. I think we’re at a stage where we need to change our whole approach, for example, by using generative AI to improve work efficiency. And I’m convinced that only companies that successfully adapt to these changes will be able to survive,” Sakurai told Gameluster.

Will Generative AI Transform Game Creation?

Major studios like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft are already experimenting with generative AI. Some focus on automating late-stage and procedural processes, but most publishers are wary of letting AI replace human creativity. Companies like Xbox, Square Enix, Capcom, Take-Two, and Sony are all keeping a close eye on these tools, but they’re not ready to let AI run the creative show just yet.

Source: 3djuegos