TLDR: Nexon CEO Junghun Lee states that all game companies should be presumed to be using AI, acknowledging its role in improving efficiency. However, he stresses that human creativity will be the ultimate differentiator for competitiveness as AI raises the industry’s baseline quality. This comes amidst discussions surrounding AI use in games like Arc Raiders.
In a recent interview with Japanese outlet Game*Spark, Nexon CEO Junghun Lee shared his perspective on the pervasive integration of artificial intelligence within the gaming industry, asserting that it’s now crucial to “assume that every game company is now using AI.” Lee’s comments follow the launch of ARC Raiders, a new extraction shooter from Nexon-owned Embark Studios, which has faced scrutiny over its use of AI in development.
Lee highlighted the tangible benefits of AI, stating, “AI has definitely improved efficiency in both game production and live service operations.” He observed that the overall “average” quality level of games has been steadily rising due to these technological advancements.
However, the Nexon chief also posed a critical question regarding the industry’s future: “But if everyone is working with the same or similar technologies, the real question becomes: how do you survive? I believe it’s important to choose a strategy that increases your competitiveness.” For Nexon, Lee’s definitive answer to this challenge is “human creativity.” He believes that as AI tools elevate the baseline output of game developers, the role of human talent and ingenuity will become even more paramount for companies aiming to distinguish themselves and rise above the competition.
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The discussion around AI in game development has been particularly prominent with ARC Raiders. Embark Studios acknowledged using text-to-speech models for some of the game’s voice lines, a practice that has drawn criticism. While the studio clarified that the game’s visuals do not employ generative AI, Embark co-founder Stefan Strandberg echoed Lee’s sentiment, describing the use of text-to-speech as a “studio strategy” and underscoring the necessity of human ingenuity alongside AI tools. This stance reflects a broader industry conversation about leveraging emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to maintain sustainable studio sizes and enhance development processes.
