I see layoffs.
I read your emails.
I feel the fear of professionals and students.
And yes, it's also affecting my business.
AI in game development
Whether you like it or not, AI is here to stay. And it's not just here.. it's getting stronger. Exponentially stronger.
I won't pretend I like all parts of it. But if I'm good at something, it is at seeing things as they are. Not just performance numbers, but also at seeing what's happening daily on the industry.
And it's not really a junior thing anymore. Students, juniors, intermediates, seniors, leads wondering what skills will be relevant in 12 months.
My take:
→ AI is today a powerful tool. But it is slowly becoming the new baseline.
IMO: studios will keep shrinking. And salaries lowering.
A couple of positive sides:
- Players connect with humanity. And AI can't replace humanity, only mimic it. And that's not enough because we see through it. So the industry still needs you to make games emotionally charming (not just technically).
- Get good at leveraging and orchestrating AI where it matters, and you'll be in a safer spot. (once you master it, you decide how much autonomously you want it to work, even if the answer is zero).
The industry will need less human capital, yes. But the right devs will still be in high demand. That’s your win and where you stay relevant.
Your move.
Ruben
Ruben (TheGameDev.Guru)