Over 50% of game developers say generative AI is harming the industry, report reveals

The Game Developers Conference’s 2026 State of the Game Industry Report reveals that there has been a major shift in attitude towards the use of generative AI among gaming professionals.

The details:

• The survey polled more than 2,300 game industry professionals, including developers, producers, marketers, executives, and investors. Just over half of respondents were based in the United States, with others based in North America and Western Europe.
• According to the report, 52% of game industry professionals believe generative AI is having a negative impact on the industry, up from 30% last year and just 18% the year before. Visual and technical artists, designers, narrative teams, and programmers were the most critical of its use, which is unsurprising as the tools are being used to generate concept art, game scripts, and more.
• The report reveals that those at game studios are using AI tools less frequently compared to those in publishing companies, support teams, and marketing/PR firms. Business professionals, especially those in upper management roles, show the highest usage among those surveyed.
• GDC also gathered several anonymous quotes from participants to share their views on generative AI as a whole. Some have dismissed the controversy surrounding the tools as a temporary moral panic, while others shared that they believe that it can make some tasks, such as project management, more efficient. However, several respondents were strongly against its use, referring to using generative AI as stealing and stating that they’d rather quit than use the technology.