AI in gaming: The perspective of our leaders

Gaming’s digital nature means it is right at the forefront of the AI transformation that is underway in every corner of the world. The global market for AI in gaming is projected to grow to $4.2 billion by 2029, and studios large and small are racing to integrate AI tools. A recent Google study showed that nearly 90% of game developers use AI agents. According to a late-2024 McKinsey survey, 78% of organizations use AI in at least one business function, up from 72% in early 2024 and 55% a year earlier.

It is not a matter of if—or even when—but how AI will transform gaming.

As an external dev we work with the industry’s biggest and most innovative companies daily. Some are using agents, some use it to speed up testing, others are building it into their operations from the ground up. We have a front-row seat to the changes being made at the altar of AI; as such, we have our opinions on where AI is now, where it is going, and how it can make teams in game development more resilient and creative without the sacrifice of true human brilliance.

In this piece, three of our leaders—Guillaume Carmona (VP of Game Production), Yann LeTensorer (VP of Technology), and Benjamin Paquette (former Senior Game Director)—offer their insights into how AI is transforming the industry.

This piece showcases some of the insights found in Room 8 Group’s and 80 Level’s joint research report—How UGC, AI, And cloud are transforming gaming—which you can read here.

AI in gaming: Balancing automation and human empowerment

AI is reshaping game development at every level. Yet for leaders at Room 8 Group, the story isn’t about AI replacing creativity, but about it augmenting human vision.

“AI is not going to be a replacement for creativity,” says Benjamin Paquette, former Senior Game Director at Room 8 Group. “It becomes an assistant in everything related to game design, copywriting, and brainstorming. The better you use the tool, the more creative and efficient you become.”

Indeed, game development must reckon with a harsh reality: developers are under immense pressure to deliver more, at a quicker pace, and with smaller budgets.

AI can help by taking on the “undifferentiated heavy lifting”—generating asset variations, automating testing, or quickening iteration cycles—leaving designers and writers to focus on narrative depth and gameplay innovation. Freeing up manpower gives organizations breathing-room.

But balance matters. “There’s a trend where developers become overly reliant on AI, using it to speed up workflow,” says Guillaume Carmona, VP of Game Production.

“While that can be beneficial in the short term, I worry it could lead to a decline in fundamental skills. We must use AI responsibly, ensuring it empowers us rather than replacing us.”

Human stories are human stories

The earnestness of human creation is still nowhere near replicated by AI models—and arguably, it never will be. “I honestly don’t believe there will be fully AI-generated games,” says Yann LeTensorer, VP of Technology. “The heart of the game is still the design, narrative, and story. If you just want to make a quick mobile game, maybe. But for a big AAA title? It will still need a soul inside of it.” It is the human perspective running through any story, in gaming and beyond, which gives it its value.

This distinction between technical efficiency and human-imbued artistry comes up in discussions often. AI can accelerate brainstorming; it can rapidly prototype hundreds of ideas in minutes. But it’s the human eye that decides which ideas resonate, which mechanics grip players, which stories deserve to be told. Benjamin likens it to creative sparring: “Like code pairing, AI is there to bounce ideas with you. It won’t do the creative heavy lifting, but it can sharpen your vision.”

Yann sees technical advantages too. “AI could help improve rendering quality through techniques like DLSS,” he says. “It can also predict player actions to reduce perceived lag in cloud environments, or compress graphics data more efficiently. These are areas where AI isn’t creative, but it’s vital.”

Discoverability amid a deluge of AI slop

As generative AI makes content creation faster and cheaper, the volume of assets and mods and experiences will explode.

Guillaume alludes to it: it’s important to manage discovery and moderate effectively. “Studios need to design robust search, curation, and moderation tools,” he says. “Otherwise, valuable creations risk being buried in the noise. AI can help filter, but human oversight is still essential.”

AI NPCs: A new world of dynamic interaction?

For players, AI can also personalize experiences. Narrative engines driven by AI can branch in new ways; NPCs can react more fluidly to dialogue and behavior. AI NPCs could open up an entirely new way of playing—one that is dynamic and totally unpredictable.

“AI-driven systems speed up the mundane, but they also open new frontiers,” Benjamin says. “You can talk to an NPC for half an hour and still get something meaningful. That’s powerful.”

Creativity is human

Still, none of the three experts believes AI can independently create the “soul” of a game. For Yann, the essence of great titles remains unchanged: “It’s not about polygons or realism—it’s about gameplay innovation, fun, and freedom of player choice.”

AI can support those values, but not originate them.

Games are stories, and stories matter because of the people they represent. AI will never have that access.

Ultimately, Room 8 Group sees AI as a co-creator, not a competitor. It will make games faster to produce, cheaper to distribute, and potentially more immersive, but only if developers maintain a human-centered approach. “The better you use the tool,” Benjamin says, “the more creative and efficient you become.”

For more in-depth insight on AI in gaming, download the report we published with 80 Level.