PlayStation CEOs claim that AI will never replace the “human touch” of video game developers

In celebration of the brand’s 30th Anniversary, joint PlayStation CEOs, Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino, sat down with BBC and talked extensively about the future of their company. They even tackled the fascinating yet highly controversial topic that is generative Artificial Intelligence in gaming.

With the recent rise of generative AI, many developers, designers, etc., worry that this brand-new technology may end up taking over their jobs. When asked about this, Hulst responded, “I suspect there will be a dual demand in gaming: one for AI-driven innovative experiences and another for handcrafted, thoughtful content.” But then he added, “Striking the right balance between leveraging AI and preserving the human touch will be crucial.”

This is a particularly fascinating stance for Hulst to take. There’s no denying that AI can assist in the process of game development without actually replacing humans, but by making their jobs easier in certain, very specific, areas. However, there are other aspects – like level design, character design, art, writing, storytelling and more – that require the full creativity of actual humans, so I can see exactly where Hulst is coming from when he mentions the “human touch”.

Most gamers agree that generative AI should be a tool that should never fully replace real people in gaming studios, and Hulst’s statement seems to line up with that. On social media websites like Reddit, PlayStation fans agree with this take, claiming that AI will cause a strong distaste among consumers and that developers should only use it if it makes their lives easier.

The PlayStation CEOs reflect on their recent success and failures

However, generative AI is not the only topic that Hulst and Nishino covered in this interview. Earlier this year, Sony released and shut down its brand-new multiplayer shooter, Concord, in the span of two weeks. This was an unprecedented critical and commercial failure for the company, but fortunately, things have gotten a lot better ever since, thanks in part to Team ASOBI’s Astro Bot. “I cannot express how happy we are with the reception of Astro Bot,” said Hulst.

The success of this whimsical 3D platformer shouldn’t be a surprise, seeing as it’s a masterpiece of level design, not to mention that it also featured several cameos of characters from other beloved PlayStation IPs. It received countless positive reviews, and it’s even one of the Game of the Year contenders in The Game Awards 2024. Astro Bot is a perfect example of what PlayStation has always excelled at, and what the company should strive to keep doing in the near future: Fun and accessible single player experiences.

Lastly, Hulst and Nishino also discussed their plans to keep adapting PlayStation franchises to TV and film. The company has already delved into these mediums, with the recent Uncharted movie, the The Last of Us show on Max and the Twisted Metal show on Peacock. But Hulst reminded BBC that they plan to keep going into that direction, especially since Amazon is currently adapting God of War (his favorite PlayStation game) into a TV show. “I am hoping to raise the PlayStation IP outside just the gaming category and elevate it so it sits comfortably within the larger entertainment industry”, concluded Hulst.