A preliminary report from the Japan Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) reveals that a significant majority of Japanese game developers are actively incorporating generative AI into their workflows. The survey, conducted at the CEDEC game developer conference, found that 85.8 percent of respondents are utilizing AI tools.
This represents a substantial leap from the previous year's findings, which indicated only 51 percent of developers were using the technology. The current adoption spans a range of applications, including the creation of in-game assets and the use of AI assistants like ChatGPT and Copilot for more general administrative tasks. The report comes amid heightened scrutiny over AI's role in asset generation, following a presentation from developer Level-5 that led to speculation among fans about the use of AI-generated imagery.
Of the developers surveyed, 63 percent reported daily use of AI, while 22.8 percent use it occasionally. A further 8.6 percent indicated that their companies have established guidelines for AI usage. A total of 1,349 developers responded to the study.
The majority of developers using AI reported tangible benefits, with many noting reductions in production time and costs. Specifically, 837 respondents claimed AI expanded their creativity, and 738 stated it lowered technical barriers. However, only 147 developers felt that AI directly benefited the end-user experience.
CESA's broader survey of its member companies revealed that 74 percent have implemented policies concerning generative AI. Among these companies, there was a near-even split between those not using generative AI and those that did. Only 12 companies reported using AI for visual assets, with even fewer employing it for tasks like story development, localization, quality assurance, or programming.
While the use of generative AI in the Japanese gaming industry is clearly on the rise, the development of clear company policies is a notable trend. These policies appear to be a direct response to mixed player feedback and growing online concerns. Despite stronger support for AI technologies in East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, global reactions, as seen with games like Crazy Taxi: World Tour, suggest that game companies must approach AI implementation with greater consideration than many other industries prioritizing productivity gains and workforce reductions.