Naughty Dog Creative Director Says AI Will “Push Boundaries Of Storytelling”

Neil Druckmann, whom you may know as the creative director of Naughty Dog (of Uncharted and The Last of Us fame), says AI technology may be beneficial in the long run.

In a recent Sony website interview as part of the company’s Creative Entertainment vision presentation (via Video Games Chronicle), The Last of Us creative director said AI technology will “revolutionise” the way content is created, despite its issues. He said it is getting easier for people with no technical ability to fully realise the story ideas in their head.

“We’re seeing this exciting marriage of cutting-edge technology with traditional storytelling that’s pushing us into a future where enhanced fidelity isn’t just about achieving realism, but about broadening the spectrum from highly stylised visuals to ultra-realistic ones. This broadening of possibilities is fueled by increasingly accessible tools that allow even non-technical people to use their imagination and create worlds and narratives to their heart’s content.”

Druckmann has stressed that AI has its ethical problems & issues that have yet to be resolved, but the tech can be used to expand what is capable in game development, much like a tool in the right hands to help cut development time down and speed up the game-making process.

“AI is really going to revolutionise how content is being created, although it does bring up some ethical issues we need to address. With technologies like AI and the ability to do motion capture right from home, we’re reducing both costs and technical hurdles, opening the door for us to take on more adventurous projects and push the boundaries of storytelling in games. This evolution is truly empowering creators to bring their visions to life without the traditional obstacles.”

If people are still hesitant about AI in game development, it’s currently helping game publishers and developers in Asia in the game-making process, mostly for pre-production and concept phases.

One thing people need to realize is that more than half of games developers (Especially in Asia / China) are using generative AI for professional game development at this point.

Mostly for pre-production / concept stuff atm, but will expand ofc. https://t.co/BYDZi2QOEG

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) May 23, 2024