Masahiro Sakurai, the acclaimed game designer behind Kirby and Super Smash Bros., has voiced significant concerns about the future of the video game industry, attributing a potential decline to a lack of originality and an overreliance on imitation. For 16 years, Sakurai presented awards recognizing innovative game design, but with the final iteration of this event, he shared a somber reflection on the state of creativity in the industry.
"Though it may sound rather grave, originality doesn’t actually have a strong impact on sales," Sakurai stated, noting that this priority often ranks low for many developers and publishers. He drew a parallel to consumable trends, suggesting that familiarity often trumps novelty, leading players to gravitate towards expected experiences rather than embracing the new. "An industry that loses that sort of originality will only die slowly," he warned, emphasizing that new ideas and experiences are the bedrock upon which the industry's existence is built.
Sakurai elaborated on his design philosophy, explaining that while genres like 2D platformers and fighting games already existed, the success of his iconic titles stemmed from introducing novel player interactions within those established frameworks. However, he admitted that conceiving and communicating original ideas has become increasingly challenging. "The first important thing is whether or not you can come up with an original idea," he said. "You might be able to expand on the concept of improving upon an existing idea, but when it comes to creating systems without an easy comparison point, who comes up with that idea?"
He further highlighted the prevalent practice of describing new games by referencing existing titles, such as "XX-like," which he argues perpetuates a cycle of imitation rather than innovation. "In other words, the thing everyone else already wants. But originality means you have to create something that isn’t already what people are after, and be deliberate with that. It’s a high hurdle."
Sakurai pointed to the explosion of game releases, particularly on platforms like Steam, as a significant factor contributing to this challenge. He noted that when he first established his award, Steam had roughly 275 games available annually; that number has now surpassed 19,000. He anticipates that artificial intelligence will further accelerate this trend, leading to an influx of games that may be derivative and potentially unplayable.
"With those AI games, the vast majority will be direct copies of games we’ve seen before," Sakurai observed. He cited examples like the premise of the game Librarian, which involves tidying a magical library, spawning numerous imitators with similar mechanics. While AI can replicate existing styles and atmospheres, Sakurai believes it cannot replicate the true spark of human creativity. "AI would not be able to create whatever Ueda himself will create in the future," he posited, referencing Fumito Ueda's unique artistic vision.
Despite his concerns, Sakurai expressed hope that the industry can still foster originality. He concluded that if developers and designers continue to find the space and support to create genuinely new ideas, the game industry will endure. The continuation of such innovation, he stressed, is vital for the industry's very survival.