One third of recreation staff utilizing genAI, however half assume it is unhealthy – Gameplay, Leaks & Tech

36 % of recreation business professionals are utilizing generative AI instruments as a part of their job. Half of them, nonetheless, assume the know-how is having a unfavorable affect on the business.

That is in keeping with the 2026 State of the Recreation Trade report, an annual survey performed by GDC Competition of Gaming primarily based on responses from over 2,300 business professionals.

Respondents employed at recreation studios (30 %) reporting utilizing generative AI instruments far lower than their friends at publishing corporations, assist groups, and advertising or PR corporations (58 %).

There was additionally a substantial distinction in AI utilization primarily based on the skilled standing of respondents. These working in higher administration (47 %), for instance, used AI instruments greater than these within the decrease decks (29 %). Studio administrators sit between these two teams (36 %).

21 % of respondents stated they use inside generative AI instruments—though that metric elevated to 30 % for staff at triple-A studios.

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 Massive language fashions (LLMs) had been probably the most used AI instrument by a rustic mile. The three hottest had been ChatGPT (74 %), Google Gemini (37 %), and Microsoft Copilot (22 %). 

As for text-to-image or video instruments, Midjourney was probably the most used (17 %), with Adobe Generative Fill (13 %) and Sora AI (8 %) following behind. A number of respondents additionally disclosed using Claude, a LLM that was not included on this 12 months’s survey.

So, what are builders utilizing these AI instruments for? Based on the survey, 81 % of respondents use them for analysis or brainstorming, whereas 47 % leverage them to finish each day duties resembling writing emails and code help.

The info signifies generative AI instruments are used much less for inventive duties resembling asset technology (19 %), procedural technology (10 %), and player-facing options (5 %).

Males additionally reported utilizing generative AI instruments greater than girls (41 % in comparison with 35 %), whereas older staff look like extra reliant on the tech than their youthful counterparts (46 % in comparison with 34 %).

52 % of execs assume generative AI is having a unfavorable affect on the business

Recreation builders seemingly did not heat to generative AI instruments in 2025, with some suggesting the know-how would decrease the standard of video video games. 

Certainly, in keeping with the 2025 State of the Recreation Trade report, 30 % of respondents felt generative AI would have a unfavorable affect on the sport business (a rise from 18 % in 2024).

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That determine has as soon as once more shot up. This 12 months’s survey discovered that 52 % of respondents imagine generative AI is having a unfavorable affect. Staff in visible and technical artwork (64 %), recreation design and narrative (63 %), and recreation programming (59 %) maintain probably the most unfavorable views.

The survey additionally surfaced quite a lot of opposition amongst these in high quality assurance and neighborhood assist, however the pattern sizes had been comparatively small.

There are some respondents who claimed generative AI is having a constructive affect on the business. About 7 % of them expressed that view, which is down from 13 % in 2025. The metric is greater for executives and people in enterprise operations and companies (19 % every).

When requested ‘What issues or values information your selections about if, when, or the best way to use generative AI instruments in your work?,’ respondents supplied a spread of considerate solutions: 

“Why would I change human creativity with a regurgitated amalgamation of every little thing that’s come earlier than?,” stated one senior worker primarily based in the USA. 

“I imagine AI could be a implausible instrument to streamline tedious work and assist rather a lot within the STEM house. It, nonetheless, can by no means change human creativity and inventive expression,” added one other respondent, additionally primarily based in the USA. 

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Recreation Developer and GDC Competition of Gaming are sibling corporations below Informa Festivals.