‘GTA 6 as the last big game before the era of artificial intelligence’

A provocative thesis about the end of an era

Thompson claims that the game, which has been in the works for more than a decade, was “almost entirely created before the AI ​​era” and embodies “years and years of blood, sweat and tears” by human developers. The value of such an undertaking, he believes, is so huge that it would justify the price of 200 US dollars. His argument positions GTA 6 not only as a game, butć and as a monument to an era – the last bastion of meticulous, manual work before the inevitable tide of automation that will, in his opinion, fundamentally change the way big-budget titles are made.

The publisher’s official position is clear

However, the official position of Take-Two Interactive, the owner of the Rockstar Games studio, offers a different perspective. CEO Strauss Zelnick was unequivocal, stressing that generative artificial intelligence has “zero input” into the creative development of Grand Theft Auto VI.

​- Their worlds are hand-crafted. This is what sets them apart. They were built from the ground up, building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood – said Zelnick, drawing a clear line between Rockstar’s approach and procedurally generated worlds.

A tool to help, not a substitute for genius

This statement does not mean that Take-Two is completely ignoring artificial intelligence. On the contrary, the company uses AI tools to improve efficiency in processes such as testing and optimization in approximately 200 internal projects. However, Zelnick makes a key distinction between AI as an assistive tool and AI as a creative engine. He thinks the idea that AI could independently create a hit game is “ludicrous” and that tools alone cannot replicate the “genius” of human creativity needed to create blockbusters.

An industry at a turning point

The debate comes at a time when the gaming industry is facing a profound transformation. According to a recent study, the number of games on Steam reporting the use of generative artificial intelligence has increased by a whopping 681 percent in just over a year. Almost nine out of ten developers today use AI tools in some part of their work process. While some see an opportunity for faster development and cost reduction, others express the fear of losing jobs and homogenization of creativity. Critics warn that AI content often turns out to be “boring and derivative”, lacking the emotional depth and unique artistic vision that characterizes the most acclaimed games.