Recently, Yoshinori Kitase, Hiromichi Tanaka, and Koichi Ishii discussed the role of generative AI in game development. These three veterans, who participated in the creation and development of the Final Fantasy and Mana series, believe that while AI can assist in production, the creative work of going "from zero to one" must still be done by humans.
This discussion stems from an interview commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Mana series. Yoshinori Kitase stated that the next generation of creators must still possess the ability to propose original concepts, a requirement that will not change with technological advancements. Hiromichi Tanaka agreed with this assessment, believing that the industry will shift further towards competition based on creativity: humans propose the initial concepts, while AI helps streamline the development process.
Yoshinori Kitase further explained that during the "scaling from one to one hundred" production phase, AI and game engines can supplement traditional manual work and improve efficiency. This allows creators to devote more energy to the starting point that defines the soul of the game.
Koichi Ishii is optimistic about using AI for prototyping and testing, while cautioning that if all work is completed independently by AI, the final product may be polished but lack a human touch. The shared stance of the three is not to reject technology, but to let humans steer the original direction while using AI as a production aid.