In recent years, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has ignited intense debate. Some view AI as an inevitable future that should be embraced and leveraged, while others see it as a potential threat that could lead to catastrophic outcomes if left unchecked. Among those voicing concerns is Yoko Taro, one of the gaming industry’s most eccentric and creative minds best known for his work on Drakengard and NieR.
In a recent interview with Famitsu (as reported by Automaton), Yoko Taro opened up about his growing anxieties about AI technology. Famously elusive behind his iconic mask, Taro expressed a fear that the game developer profession could be rendered obsolete by AI within the next 50 years. He likened the potential extinction of game creators to how the once-celebrated profession of medieval bards has faded into history.
Despite his apprehensions, Yoko Taro also shared his thoughts on how AI might shape the future of video games. Rather than using AI to merely imitate the style of specific developers, he predicts that AI will be leveraged for its generative capabilities. In this future, games would not simply copy and use formulas but instead dynamically adapt to players’ behaviours and choices.
For example, Taro imagines a scenario where adventure games could automatically generate new paths and content based on a player’s previous actions and playstyle. This would create a sense of personalisation, offering each player a uniquely tailored experience — games that genuinely feel exclusive to each individual.
However, Taro also cautioned that such personalisation could come at a cost. With experiences becoming so individualised, he believes it could become much harder for video games to achieve the kind of massive, global success that shared experiences allow today. In other words, when everyone’s journey is different, it becomes harder to foster the collective cultural moments that landmark games currently enjoy.
At the time of writing, Yoko Taro is busy working on a mysterious new project with Square Enix, although no confirmation has been given on whether it will be tied to the NieR series.
