Hideki Hayakawa, president of Konami, has shared a cautious view of generative AI’s potential impact on video game development. Although he acknowledges that the technology could improve production efficiency, he does not expect it to bring a significant change to the market.
Hayakawa argues that the barrier to entering game development has already been lowered by advances in general-purpose graphics engines and the growth of user-generated content. This differs from the common view that generative AI will be the main force making development more accessible.
According to Hayakawa, the most important elements in creating innovative entertainment and video games will continue to be “people and creators.” He also highlighted the human dynamics within development teams, saying that the exchange between team members can lead to new ideas and gameplay mechanics. He added that this kind of “chemical reaction” cannot easily be replaced.
Konami has been rebuilding its presence in the video game industry after years of limited activity. The company has revived Silent Hill through projects including Silent Hill 2 Remake, Silent Hill f and Silent Hill Townfall, and has also returned to Castlevania with the release of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.
Sources: Vandal.