Tarn Adams, the creator of the notoriously complex simulation game Dwarf Fortress, has voiced strong opposition to the integration of generative AI in game development. In a recent interview, Adams shared his concerns, acknowledging the widespread fear among industry professionals about being replaced by AI technologies.
Adams described generative AI as an "epidemic sweeping through the industry," drawing parallels to similar anxieties he's observed in other fields like medicine. He pointed out that while companies may view AI as a cost-saving measure or a revenue generator, employees face the genuine worry of their roles becoming obsolete or being forced to work with tools that compromise quality. Adams specifically noted that even if he were to experiment with AI, "I don't think it would really boost my productivity at this point."
A significant concern for Adams is the potential impact of AI-generated code on game performance. He observed that code produced by AI, without dedicated optimization by developers, can lead to games running poorly. This issue has become apparent in recent instances where individuals have used AI to decompile and recompile games, prioritizing rapid availability over technical polish. Adams stated, "You can tell when you grab a vibe-coded game and your [computer] fan starts spinning. It's not good enough."
Despite his reservations, Adams admitted that a significant external pressure could potentially force his hand. "The only thing that would push me forcibly," he explained, "would be if I could no longer release the game on Windows because Microsoft did some Copilot-ass thing that forced you to do some sort of gen crap to get your game recognised there." He expressed hope that such a scenario, given Microsoft's recent scaling back of its Copilot initiatives, would not materialize for the benefit of developers like himself and the industry at large.
Shifting focus to Dwarf Fortress itself, Adams shared enthusiasm for upcoming features, including advancements in boat transport and player-driven experiments involving in-game computers powered by trapped vampires.