Hideo Kojima Pushes for AI to Reduce Game Development Time and Costs
Hideo Kojima, the creator behind Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid, has shared his thoughts on using AI in game development. In an interview with Wired Japan, Kojima said he sees AI as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.
“A lot of people use AI in creative work to come up with ideas, but I think of AI as more of a friend … I would lead the creative part and use AI to boost efficiency,” Kojima said.
He added that he wants AI to take over what he calls “tedious tasks” to save both time and money. Kojima explained that he imagines a future where he could “co-create with AI instead of just using it.” These tedious tasks could include things like handling lipsyncing in multiple languages, freeing up the development team to focus on the creative parts of the game.
Other developers share similar views. Rebecka Coutaz, VP and general manager of Battlefield Studios in Europe, told BBC Newsbeat that AI is used during the early stages of production to make room for more creative thinking. She emphasized that the final game, from campaign missions to multiplayer maps, is still crafted by human designers and artists.
Fasahat “Fas” Salim, design director at Criterion, echoed this sentiment. He said that AI is not something to fear but a tool to improve workflow. “It’s just a matter of how we can incorporate that productively into our workflows, how can we leverage that to take our games to the next level,” Salim explained.
Kojima’s vision highlights a shift in the industry, where AI is seen as a partner in game development rather than a replacement for human creativity.
Using AI to handle repetitive tasks could allow developers to focus on storytelling and design, which could make games even more engaging. Do you think AI should play a bigger role in creating video games? Share your thoughts in the comments.