Game Development under the AI Wave: Reinvention and rebirth

In this ever-changing digital age, generative artificial intelligence (AIGC) is an unstoppable stream that is impacting and reshaping the game development landscape with unprecedented force. The prediction of CAI Haoyu, the leader of the Chinese game industry and the founder of Miha Tour, is like a stone thrown into the lake, which has stirred up ripples - in the future, the stage of game development will no longer be the exclusive territory of traditional developers, but a place for the elite and amateurs to dance, and those developers who linger between the two may face a crossroads in their careers.

The global gaming industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with a wave of layoffs sweeping in like a cold wave. According to foreign media reports, in the first half of 2024, the number of layoffs in the game industry has approached 10,000, and behind every cold figure, there is a game person who was once full of passion and dreams. However, this is not the full picture of AI. In the shadow of layoffs and unemployment, AI has also brought unprecedented opportunities and possibilities to the game industry.

Take the US video game giant Valve for example, the company best known for its Steam platform, but with a surprisingly low number of employees - only 336 people, to achieve a huge global impact. Behind this is the dual drive of efficient management and technological innovation. The addition of AI will undoubtedly push this model to a new height. Not only can it automate a lot of tedious work, such as art design, program optimization, etc., but it also provides game developers with unprecedented creative support, so that individual developers can create a game as popular as Starling Grain Talk.

The rise of AI is profoundly changing the ecological structure of game development. In the past, the technical barrier was a gap between ordinary people and game development, but now, with the intelligent game production engine, this gap is gradually being filled. Individual developers no longer need to master complex programming skills to create their own games with the help of AI. This not only lowers the barrier to entry for game development, but also greatly stimulates the creativity and participation of the public.

However, the involvement of AI is not entirely positive. For developers who rely on traditional skills to survive, the rise of AI is undoubtedly an existential crisis. They must constantly learn new technologies and tools to adapt to this ever-changing era. Otherwise, the end of their careers awaits. But it is this pressure that promotes the development of the entire game industry and promotes the continuous improvement of game quality.

Although AI has demonstrated strong substitution capabilities in many ways, there are three areas that are difficult for AI to reach. The first is "game ideas". AI is good at imitation and copying, but it is difficult to create truly innovative game content. The core of the game is its unique gameplay and freshness, which is something that AI cannot match. As a result, those developers with extraordinary ideas will always be the mainstay of the game industry.

Next is "AI solution provider." Although AI generated content is convenient and efficient, it is inseparable from the construction and optimization of professionals behind it. Technologies like motion-capture AI for cats still require careful design and debugging by human engineers. Therefore, those developers who can master AI technology and provide solutions for it will also have a place in the game industry.

And finally, "game engine developer." The constant iteration of game development tools and engines is an important driving force for the growth of the game industry. This field requires deep technical skills and a forward-looking vision, which AI cannot replace. Therefore, those developers who work on game engines will always be the core force of the game industry.

With the continuous development and popularization of AI technology, we have reason to believe that the future game industry will show a more diversified and innovative face. And those developers who can keep up with the pace of The Times, continue to learn and innovate will also shine more brightly in this new era full of opportunities and challenges.