Konami Says AI Won't Shake Up the Games Market, Backs Human Creators

Konami used its latest financial report to state its position on AI: the technology may make game creation easier, but company president Hideki Hayakawa does not expect the market to change significantly, because creative teams and the people on them remain the key ingredient. The publisher is leaving the door open to using AI, while researching it cautiously and drafting internal guardrails.

AI's effect on development practices, along with its use by outsiders to infringe on copyrighted material, has become a major concern for many studios. Konami addressed both the opportunity and the limits in its latest financial report, possibly in response to investor interest in the technology.

Why Konami doubts a market shake-up

Hayakawa, representative director and president at Konami Digital Entertainment, acknowledged the common view that AI will let anyone make games. He argued the impact will be smaller than many expect.

"Generally, it's thought that AI will allow anyone to easily make games, thus lowering the barrier to entry," Hayakawa said. "However, I do not believe the market will shift significantly. Barriers to entry have already been lowered by the growth of general-purpose game engines and the growth of user-generated content in games."

He also placed the value of development with people rather than tools: "Even if using AI leads to greater efficiency, I believe the most important factor in developing interesting and innovative games is people, specifically creators. Not only that, creators form 'teams' to develop games, and within that, people from diverse backgrounds exchange and bring together ideas to create never-before-seen new games that expand the potential of gaming. This kind of interaction cannot be replaced easily."

Cautious, not closed

The report does not rule out AI at Konami. It describes the technology as a "notable opportunity" that could support developers in certain ways. For now, the company says it is researching AI carefully and gradually giving its teams guidance on guardrails and protocols that determine whether and how it can be used.

The stance resembles that of other Japanese publishers such as Sega. Konami's version leans on the idea that the best gaming experiences come from players and developers coming together. An AI experience tailored solely to the person who made it, however polished, can't offer that.

The Roblox angle

The emphasis on user-generated content may also reflect Konami's own plans: the company is developing its own alternative to Roblox, called Wai Wai World Craft. Either way, the statement shows a publisher behind franchises like Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania stepping back from a full embrace of AI.