Game developer Glen Schofield, known for Dead Space, stated that AI will not replace human talent in game development but encouraged artists to learn the technology now. He highlighted the need for nuance in creation that current AI lacks. Schofield shared these views in a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz.
Glen Schofield expressed skepticism about claims that AI could enable small teams to produce AAA games. 'I hear people saying soon you'll be able to make a AAA game with 20 people because of AI. I want to believe it, but when I'm working through one of my levels, I'm always going, 'Move that pixel over. That should come down. I want more wires. I want two blue ones there. And I want this exactly here',' he said, emphasizing the constant nuanced adjustments required in art, code, and camera work. Industry pressures demand cheaper development with fewer people, yet creativity remains essential, he noted. Schofield hopes for better integration of AI tools into major engines to speed up character creation and animation. These tools, he argued, could enhance creativity by freeing time for more content, though developers would likely fill games with even more details rather than shorten workdays. He compared resistance to AI with past opposition to performance and motion capture, where some artists quit, warning that 'it's out there now.' 'I wish artists would take notice that this is a great time to learn some form of AI,' Schofield said, predicting that new graduates will master it while others lag behind. However, he cautioned that AI tools and specialists will be costly, as companies seek quick returns before potential failures in the sector. Schofield served as executive producer on Dead Space in 2008 and led The Callisto Protocol at Striking Distance Studios in 2022, leaving the studio in 2023 after its underperformance.
