Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
Latest coverage
Final Fantasy 14 boss Yoshi-P has "many game ideas" tucked away that he'd like to do something with, one being a "game design that combines AI and servers"
Naoki Yoshida, producer of Final Fantasy 14, has revealed he has numerous game ideas he wishes to develop, including one that combines AI and servers. Despite the challenges in the current game industry, Yoshida expressed excitement and has no plans to retire soon, continuing to work on Final Fantasy 14 and potentially other projects.
As AI costs rise, there’s little evidence of major utility in game development | Opinion
The article analyzes the increasing costs and limited utility of Artificial Intelligence in game development. While AI tools offer some productivity gains, they are inconsistent, task-specific, and require significant human supervision, making higher costs difficult to justify. The initial hype surrounding AI has subsided as companies face actual expenses, leading to a more realistic assessment of its impact.
AI Yi-Yi!
The former head of AI at Take-Two Interactive believes the current hype surrounding generative AI is detrimental and could negatively impact the future adoption of traditional AI technologies. The article also briefly mentions Amazon abandoning a Sam Altman movie project.
Palworld studio says 'gamers don't want' AI in their games: 'It feels like everyone who is super gung-ho about it isn't from the industry'
Pocketpair's John Buckley stated that gamers do not want AI in their games, comparing the current enthusiasm for AI to early cryptocurrency trends. He believes that those heavily promoting AI in game development are outsiders looking for quick profit, though he acknowledges AI's utility as a search tool or coding assistant. Buckley emphasized that the company prioritizes its human artists and sees no reason to replace them with AI-generated assets, especially given the potential backlash.
Take-Two's ex-AI boss says the generative AI hype is "poisoning the well" and could ward off all use of traditional AI in the future
Take-Two's former AI boss, Luke Dicken, believes the excessive hype around generative AI is "poisoning the well" and could negatively impact the adoption of traditional AI in game development. He argues that the focus on generative AI overshadows the potential of other AI techniques and that the industry may abandon AI research altogether if the current bubble bursts.
Report: Former Xbox president Sarah Bond and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick linked to Peter Thiel's secret society
Former Xbox president Sarah Bond and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick have been linked to 'Dialog,' an exclusive society founded by Peter Thiel. Internal records exposed by a hacktivist revealed the names of 113 individuals associated with the group, which convenes for off-the-record retreats discussing various topics, including geopolitical events and technology.
Amazon is investigating three employees who spoke out against building more AI data centers
Amazon is investigating three employees who testified against the construction of AI data centers in Seattle. The engineers claim Amazon is threatening their jobs because of their public statements made during city hearings.
Rockstar's legal setback, Final Fantasy tax incentives, and PlayStation swaps 'PC' for 'AI' - Patch Notes #57
This week's gaming news includes Rockstar Games facing a trial date for union busting allegations, Sony Interactive Entertainment shifting its business strategy focus from 'PC' to 'AI' in SEC filings, and Microsoft's Xbox division reportedly preparing for studio closures. Additionally, Don't Nod is seeking new financing after Tencent withdrew short-term investment, Shibuya ward is offering Final Fantasy 14 in-game items for tax donations, and Epic Games is merging Unreal Engine 5 and UEFN into a unified Unreal Engine 6. The UK government is also set to implement a ban on social media for under 16s, impacting high-risk features in games.
Unreal Engine 6 Expands Multiverse, Enables Fortnite Skin Transfers Across Games, Epic Announces
Epic Games has announced Unreal Engine 6, set for Early Access in late 2027 and full release by 2028-2029. This major update introduces cross-game cosmetic interoperability, starting with Fortnite, allowing players to transfer digital items between different games. The engine also integrates AI tools and Verse, a programming language for online worlds, aiming to foster a unified gaming experience and honor player investments.
Epic Games doubles down on Unreal Engine AI integration, as Fortnite tools jeopardize Vampire Survivors collab
Epic Games is significantly integrating Artificial Intelligence into Unreal Engine, aiming to streamline content creation and boost iteration for developers. This push towards generative AI and LLMs has led to concerns, notably from Vampire Survivors developer Poncle, who is reviewing their collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic's extensive use of AI in asset creation.
Evening Reading - June 18, 2026
Shacknews' Evening Reading for June 18, 2026, highlights that Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders will begin on June 25th with the cover art revealed. The article also touches on reviews for The Adventures of Elliot and UFC 6, new Pokémon content, Apple's price increases, Epic Games' use of AI in Unreal Engine, and various other internet curiosities including custom game art and mods.
Steam Next Fest's top played games include only 1 of over 500 demos with an AI disclosure
Valve has revealed the top ten most played demos from Steam Next Fest, with Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad and an offroading sim by the Art of Rally developers among the most popular. Notably, only one of the featured games, Nexon's Embers of the Uncrowned, disclosed the use of AI in its development. The article highlights the increasing prevalence of AI disclosures in game development and suggests Steam should implement a filter for AI-generated content.
AI Yi-Yi!
Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a $7 trillion plan aimed at giving Americans control over the artificial intelligence industry. The article also briefly mentions a new AI optimization framework that reportedly outperforms Claude Code and Codex by 2.5 times.
Sony Removes PC Mentions in Annual Report, Discusses Use of AI For Game Development
Sony's latest annual report indicates a shift in business strategy, notably removing mentions of bringing first-party titles to PC and focusing on profitability adjustments due to rising component prices. The company plans to leverage AI for game development to improve productivity and enhance the PlayStation experience, while also continuing cross-media efforts.
“A natural, ugh, why?” Palworld lead plants the flag on the right side of the AI discussion
Palworld's lead developer, Takuro Mizobe, has taken a stance on the ongoing discussion surrounding artificial intelligence in game development. He expressed his views, suggesting a particular side in the debate, which was shared via a post on Destructoid.
Vampire Survivors dev may nix Fortnite collab in light of Epic’s ‘central role’ stance on AI in game dev
The developer of Vampire Survivors is considering canceling a potential collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic Games' stance on the central role of AI in game development. This decision stems from disagreements over Epic's policies regarding artificial intelligence integration in the industry.
Snapdragon Reality Elite chip aims for 'up to 60% higher GPU performance, up to 30% increase in CPU…
Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon Reality Elite, a new System on Chip designed for augmented and virtual reality devices. The chip promises significant performance improvements over its predecessor, including up to 60% higher GPU performance and up to 30% increased CPU performance, while also focusing on power efficiency and AI capabilities. This new SoC aims to enable sleeker, longer-lasting, and more immersive XR experiences for both smart glasses and VR headsets.
Vampire Survivors dev 'reviewing' Fortnite collab after Epic's AI announcement
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reconsidering its collaboration with Epic Games for Fortnite items following Epic's announcement of AI-powered features for Unreal Engine. Poncle expressed concerns on Reddit about Epic's use of generative AI in game asset creation, stating they are reviewing the partnership and will provide updates. This move comes amid growing developer apprehension towards AI in the industry.
Palworld Dev On AI: “Gamers Don’t Want It”
John Buckley, communications lead for Palworld developer Pocketpair, stated that gamers do not want AI in game development and that his studio has no plans to use it. He expressed skepticism about the longevity of the AI trend and questioned the value of replacing human artists with AI. The article also touches on Steam's AI disclosure policy and differing developer opinions on AI's impact.
gamescom dev announces opening keynote by Amir Satvat and first program highlights
gamescom dev 2026 has announced its first program highlights, including an opening keynote by Amir Satvat on the future of the games industry. The event will feature new curated tracks for Animation, Level Design, and AI, with initial speakers and sessions revealed. The conference, taking place August 23-25 in Cologne, aims to bring together global industry professionals.
