Veteran game director Yoko Taro, best known for NieR: Automata, has issued a stark warning about the future of human game developers amid the rapid rise of generative AI—and he’s not optimistic. Speaking during a Famitsu roundtable for the upcoming title The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, Taro stated that within the next 50 years, AI might become so advanced that game creators could end up “like bards,” their traditional roles all but obsolete.
Taro, joined by narrative heavyweights Kazutaka Kodaka (Danganronpa), Kotaro Uchikoshi (Zero Escape), and Jiro Ishii (428: Shibuya Scramble), discussed AI’s rapidly growing capabilities in generating branching narratives, adaptive dialogue, and personalised quests. He predicted an era where AI could replicate—and even surpass—human storytelling, dynamically crafting scenarios based on user preferences.
“I think, in the near future, we’ll shift from imitating our favorite creators to having AI generate our favorite scenarios,” he added. “AI will determine user preferences and generate branching routes with increasingly accurate recommendations.” The panel agreed that AI is poised to become a mainstream tool in game development, raising questions about the future role of human creativity in the industry.
Kotaro Uchikoshi echoed the sentiment, expressing concern over the pace of AI development and predicting that fully AI-generated adventure games could soon become the norm. While acknowledging the technology’s potential, he emphasised that maintaining originality and a distinctly ‘human touch’ will be critical for creators hoping to remain relevant.
On the flip side, Kazutaka Kodaka pushed back against the idea that AI can replicate true creativity. “AI can mimic style, but it can’t intentionally break it,” he said, arguing that human creators can subvert their own patterns in ways AI cannot. He explained that, for example, AI could write a game scenario in the style of filmmaker David Lynch, but only Lynch himself can authentically reinvent it.
While Yoko Taro envisioned AI crafting hyper-personalised experiences—branching stories moulded to each player’s preferences and behaviour, Kodaka cautioned that such tailored experiences risk diluting games as shared cultural touchstones. The more individualised a narrative becomes, the harder it may be for players to connect over a common game experience, potentially weakening a title’s global cultural footprint.
Across the industry, developers are rapidly integrating AI into their pipelines. Studios like Larian and Warhorse have voiced optimism, saying AI will streamline development, automate repetitive tasks and accelerate content production. Kingdom Come 2 director Daniel Vávra recently said he hopes AI will help him develop and release more games before he retires. At the same time, several publishers embracing AI—including Capcom, Activision, and Nintendo—have also enacted widespread layoffs, fueling criticism about AI’s role in job displacement.
As AI continues to reshape development workflows, the debate is shifting from possibility to inevitability. Whether AI becomes the ultimate collaborator or a silent usurper, its influence on storytelling, labour, and creativity is no longer a distant future—it’s the new reality.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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