Developers are expecting generative AI (genAI) to have its biggest impact on the game industry over the next three years, affecting team sizes and productivity for certain roles.
This comes from the Gamescom Dev Speaker survey, which collects answers from 100 speakers from this year’s conference. Overall, 83 percent of respondents expect AI to affect team structure or productivity in some way.
When it comes to specifics, the respondents are largely split on the tech, which has garnered a largely negative reception from developers in recent years, with many arguing that it is having a corrosive effect on the industry. 36 percent of the speakers believe AI will change roles rather than reduce teams, while 33 percent expect smaller team sizes. 17 percent do not expect AI to reduce teams, and only 14 percent anticipate increased output per person
Respondents also chimed in on its current use. 34 percent see the greatest value of AI in areas like code and production, while 30 percent prefer as little AI involvement in game development as possible. As noted by the survey, the result remains broadly consistent with last year’s questionnaire.
As for other areas where AI is currently being used, management and administration tasks sit at at 12 percent, quality assurance and testing and “other answers” at 7 percent each, art and animation at 4 percent, localization at 3 percent, marketing and communication at 2 percent, and narrative design at 1 percent.
The survey results come amidst studios continuing to toot the genAI horn. Companies like Capcom and Owlcat Games claim to be using genAI to speed up production and iterate faster on their games, respectively. Meanwhile, studios like Pearl Abyss, known for Crimson Desert, have issued public apologies for failing to disclose the use of genAI during production after player backlash, following on similar cases for Ubisoft and 11 Bit Studios last year with Anno 117: Pax Romana and The Alters, respectively.
The full 2026 Gamescom Dev Speaker survey is available to read here.