Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has torn into AI-generated games, saying they can’t match the “originality” of human developers as they lift systems from other titles.
Artificial Intelligence has long had a place in game development. Developers have used procedural AI to generate backgrounds, NPCs, and other items that typically don’t impact the gameplay all that much.
However, over the last few years, AI has started impacting everyday life and game development a lot more. That has seen the likes of Epic الألعاب chasing AI games made in vibe-coding competitions and also other devs believing that “90%” of games now use AI.
In the case of Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Brothers, he isn’t sold on the rise of AI-generated games at all.
Sakurai hits out at AI ‘churning out’ games
Speaking to Denfaminico Gamer, Sakurai said that AI will be used to “churn out” games, noting that there will “simply be too many to keep track of.”
The Super Smash Brothers creator said that AI is “exceptionally well-suited” for copying systems and ideas from pre-existing games too, adding it is “certainly possible” that AI will generate “something similar” to games like Shadow of the Colossus.
“But the things Ueda-san will create in the future — those are things AI cannot produce. Whatever artistic vision he chooses to pursue next, that is something only he can bring to life. I believe that is what we mean when we talk about human ‘originality,'” Sakurai noted.
There are different translations of one part of Sakurai’s interview, too.
One translation says he believes AI games will be “unprofitable,” and another translation claims he says they will be “unplayable.” However, the correct quote has not been nailed down.
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Rockstar الألعاب co-founder Dan Houser, who now runs Absurd Ventures, believes AI is not “going to solve all of the problems” that developers have.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick agreed with that, noting that AI can’t replicate what Rockstar makes, but he is “optimistic” about the tools.
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