How many game developers use generative AI at work?
More video game developers are using generative AI tools in their jobs than a year ago, according to the GDC Festival of Gaming’s latest annual industry survey. Forty percent of respondents said they use the technology “as part of their job,” up from 36 percent in 2025.
Which game developers use generative AI most?
Usage runs higher in some parts of the industry. Developers working on free-to-play games reported 58 percent use, and workers at mobile-only studios came in at 70 percent.
The numbers land in an industry still wrestling with the technology. Many game developers, particularly independent ones, have spoken out strongly against generative AI. The debate has also reached awards season. AI has become a central topic in indie award conversations, in part because Big Walk developer House House “sparingly” used large language models to help with technical challenges during the “final stretch” of development.
AI is also being used to reverse-engineer retro games. In a post on Thursday, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma appeared to signal that the technology will play a central role in the company’s future. “A small team will be able to build worlds that today demand hundreds of developers and hundreds of millions of dollars,” Sharma wrote.
What do game developers use generative AI for?
The survey also asked developers how they use the tools. Seventy-three percent said they use AI for research and brainstorming. Sixty-two percent use it for data analysis and summarization, and 56 percent use it for code generation and debugging. Visual work drew much smaller shares. Twenty-two percent said they use generative AI for concept art or visual ideation, and 8 percent use it for production art or final game assets.
The report also paints a grim picture of employment in the industry. Thirty-four percent of respondents said they had been laid off at some point in the past two years.
The full report is available for download from GDC’s website.
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