Longtime Square Enix developers behind iconic titles like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger believe that while artificial intelligence may aid game development, the core human ability to innovate remains paramount. Speaking to Famitsu for the 35th anniversary of the Mana series, veterans Hiromichi Tanaka, Kouichi Ishii, and Yoshinori Kitase reflected on their SNES-era development experiences and the evolving landscape of game creation.
The developers recalled the flexibility afforded by smaller teams and shorter development cycles during the SNES era, which allowed for significant shifts during game creation. This was evident in projects like Secret of Mana, initially planned for a canceled CD add-on and later reimagined for the standard SNES cartridge, a decision that indirectly influenced the development of Chrono Trigger and ultimately led to Final Fantasy VII becoming a PlayStation exclusive. Kitase noted that AI could potentially offer similar empowerment to smaller teams today, enabling them to create games that might otherwise be out of reach.
"Just as various technologies have supported game development previously, I feel we may see AI play an increasingly important role in game development," Kitase stated. "However, we will need to carefully consider how to make the most of it." He compared AI's potential role to that of game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, which standardized foundational tools and freed developers from creating their own from scratch. However, Kitase stressed that AI cannot replace the fundamental human drive to create.
"Nowadays, with engines like Unreal and Unity available, the foundation for game development already exists for many people," Kitase explained. "Combined with support from new tools and other technologies, this makes it easier even for those with little experience to create games, which is a major shift as it allows them to gain the experience of developing and completing work on a game. However, when it comes to creating something and taking it from 0 to 1, you absolutely need people. That will never change, so the next generation of developers must have the ability to make something from 0."
Ishii echoed this sentiment, suggesting that AI could expedite prototyping, allowing more time for refinement and exploration of alternative approaches. Yet, he cautioned that AI-generated content might lack the essential human touch. "If we can develop prototypes quicker, we have more time to test and refine them, thinking about whether we should try it another way instead. But, humans will need to still define the beginning and end of the working process. If we rely solely on AI, the result may appear polished, but it may feel cold and lack the needed human touch."
The developers' perspective on AI aligns with recent discussions in the industry, including comments from Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto. With over 85 percent of Japanese game developers reportedly using or considering AI tools, the focus is shifting towards responsible integration rather than outright rejection. The ultimate success of AI in game development may depend on finding a balance between technological assistance and the indispensable human element that resonates with players.