Konami CEO Hideki Hayakawa stated in the latest financial report that AI is unlikely to bring significant changes to the gaming market. Even if this technology improves development efficiency, human creators remain key to crafting fun and innovative video games.
This assessment addresses both the application of generative AI in art, voice acting, and programming, as well as the question of whether AI can lower technical barriers and allow more people to enter game development. Hayakawa believes that with continuous advancements in general-purpose game engines and the growing prevalence of user-generated content, getting started with game creation has actually become easier.
Hideki Hayakawa did not deny the value of AI as a production tool. He acknowledged that AI could improve production efficiency but disagreed that this technology would fundamentally reshape the gaming market, nor did he believe it could replace human creativity.
Currently, many executives at game companies hold a more positive attitude toward AI-assisted development, with ongoing discussions about how much efficiency can be boosted by AI-generated content and "vibe coding." Konami, however, has expressed a relatively restrained stance.