Game developers report wider AI use alongside growing concern over its impact

Generative AI use and approval are moving in different directions among game industry professionals. According to PC Gamer’s coverage of the latest Game Developers Conference State of the Game Industry report, 40% of respondents use generative AI in their jobs, while 55% believe it has a negative effect on the industry.

The survey gathered responses from more than 2,600 people across the industry. Reported workplace use rose from 36% in the previous year, but that increase did not translate into broad confidence in the technology.

Research and coding lead reported uses

Among respondents using generative AI, nearly three-quarters reported employing it for research and brainstorming. Code generation and debugging followed at 56%, according to the figures reported by PC Gamer.

Use was less common for visual development and features experienced by players. Concept art and visual ideation accounted for 22%, while just 7% reported using generative AI for player-facing features.

The survey also found differences between groups. Among professionals over 45, 54% said they used the technology. Indie developers were less likely to use it than those working on premium, free-to-play and mobile-exclusive games.

Adoption does not mean endorsement

Alongside the 55% reporting a negative industry impact, 35% described the effect as mixed and 8% considered it positive. PC Gamer also reported concerns about skills deteriorating and reduced opportunities for professional and personal development.

These results describe respondents’ practices and opinions; they do not establish whether the tools improve game quality or productivity. For gaming audiences, the distinction between workplace assistance and player-facing implementation is particularly useful: the survey reports substantially more use for research and coding than for features players directly encounter.