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Shuhei Yoshida: I'd love to see the application of generative AI technology by independent developers

author:3DM Game Network

Shuhei Yoshida, PlayStation's longtime executive and head of the Indie Developer Program, is optimistic about the possibility of generating AI technology, especially for indie developers.

Shuhei Yoshida: I'd love to see the application of generative AI technology by independent developers

Earlier this week, Yoshida was interviewed by GI.biz ahead of the BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award presentation. While much of the conversation focused on the future of indie games and what PlayStation is doing to bring more studios to its platform, the interview also touched on some of the trends and hot topics being discussed in the industry.

When it comes to generative AI, the technology that enables developers to generate content such as art assets, text, and more through text prompts, Shuhei Yoshida believes it opens up a lot of opportunities for small studios.

"I'm really excited about the capabilities of these tools, especially for smaller teams and even individuals," he told GamesIndustry.biz. "This morning, I was taking pictures of a student game for the competition I was judging, and a game made by a team of a small number of students looked really beautiful. They use MidJourney, an AI that generates art, to create resources, so it's happening. ”

Shuhei Yoshida: I'd love to see the application of generative AI technology by independent developers

"These AI tools will be used in the future, not only for creating resources, but also for animation, AI behavior, and even debugging. I'd love to see how game developers will leverage these tools to create gaming experiences that weren't possible in the past. So I'm a huge fan. ”

Generative AI has seen some negative feedback across the industry in recent months amid concerns that it will lead to job displacement. Yoshida disagrees with this concern. "The nature of the work will change," he acknowledges, but says "it's still a tool." Humans have to use the tool skillfully. We've seen the figure of a man with three arms created by AI, so it's a smart tool, a powerful tool, but it's always a tool that developers have to learn to use. ”

"It's going to be the product, or the volume, that will change, but I'm not worried about that."

Shuhei Yoshida: I'd love to see the application of generative AI technology by independent developers

We also talked to him about the game's changing prices. While he didn't say his opinion on whether the $70 label adopted by many triple-A games now becomes the standard, he thinks it could mean indie game developers could charge more for their titles.

"I think it helps because it creates more room for indie developers to price their games," he says. Some quality indie games are priced at $40, and people are happy to pay for that price. ”