Every day, the digital landscape buzzes with discussions surrounding the integration of artificial intelligence in video games. Recently, Larian Studios found itself under scrutiny after confirming its use of AI to “explore references.” Meanwhile, Expedition 33’s Sandfall is also facing allegations regarding its AI applications. Prior to these controversies, Black Ops 7 was criticized for incorporating generative AI art assets, and Arc Raiders drew attention for utilizing AI to generate additional voice lines.
Insights from Industry Leaders
In a recent interview with Adrian Chmielarz, founder of The Astronauts and director of titles such as Gears of War: Judgement and Bulletstorm, we delved into his perspective on the evolving role of AI in gaming. Chmielarz, who has been vocal on social media about the abrupt cancellation of the Postal spinoff Bullet Paradise—cited for its use of generative AI—expressed his skepticism about the technology’s potential to create compelling games. “Nobody knows anything [about AI],” he remarked, humorously adding that he feels like he’s “on a TNT barrel” when discussing the topic.
Chmielarz firmly believes that the notion of creating a quality game solely through AI is misguided. “There’s absolutely no way,” he stated, while acknowledging his own daily use of AI for tasks like visualization and language correction. He emphasized that while AI is advancing rapidly, the infrastructure required to support real-time game creation remains out of reach for the foreseeable future. “It’s going to be quite some time before AI has a shot at stealing game creation from us,” he asserted.
Yet, he admits that AI’s capabilities are becoming increasingly impressive. “I just saw what Nano Banana (Google’s AI image generator) can do, and now it’s like ‘okay, maybe 100 people in the world could recognize that it’s AI.’ That’s a bit scary,” he confessed.
Chmielarz also highlighted a noteworthy example from Revolution Software, which used AI to upscale the original imagery of the classic point-and-click game Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars. Co-founder Charles Cecil revealed that the team “simply couldn’t afford” to remake the game without AI assistance. Chmielarz considers this a “totally fair” use of the technology, illustrating a scenario where AI serves as a valuable tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.
On the development of Witchfire, Chmielarz maintains a strict policy: while AI can assist in conceptualizing ideas, no AI-generated content will appear in the final product. He recounted an instance where an artist he collaborates with delivered impressive portraits for the game. When asked if AI had been involved, the artist clarified that while he had used AI for minor finishing touches, the core work was done manually. Chmielarz insisted on keeping the project free from AI influence, opting instead for traditional methods to ensure a genuine human touch.
For Chmielarz, the essence of gaming lies in its human connection, contrasting sharply with AI’s role as a “collective subconscious of all humanity.” He pointed out that many gamers share his apprehension about AI-generated content, referencing the backlash against alleged generative imagery in Fortnite Chapter 7. “Oh my God, I can’t imagine what would happen if we had AI assets in the game,” he laughed, acknowledging that while not everyone would object, a significant portion of players would likely react negatively.
Looking ahead, Chmielarz speculates that AI might be accepted more readily as a tool rather than as a creative force. He noted a trend on platforms like YouTube where old songs are reimagined in new styles, some of which have garnered positive responses despite their AI origins. “I know it’s AI and it sounds like an old MP3, the quality is low, but it’s good. I’m enjoying that,” he admitted.
As the conversation around AI in gaming continues to evolve, Chmielarz anticipates that the landscape will shift dramatically by 2026, especially with major titles like GTA 6 and Witchfire 1.0 on the horizon. The future of AI in gaming promises to be a fascinating journey, one that industry insiders and gamers alike will be watching closely.
