Dan Houser maintains a cautious attitude towards the current state of the art of artificial intelligence. During a recent television speech, the co-founder of Rockstar Games offered a lucid and unsensationalist perspective, underlining how the real capabilities of AI are often distant from the promises made by its most fervent supporters. While he did not deny the future potential of such tools, his analysis suggests that today’s technology is not yet the one-size-fits-all solution many would have you believe.
During the interview, it was confirmed that the next video game based on his novel A Better Paradise could integrate some artificial intelligence components. However, the approach remains extremely pragmatic: Houser highlighted that, although the industry is experimenting with such tools, their practical usefulness does not yet fully reflect the commercial narrative proposed by many technology companies. AI proves effective for specific tasks, but is still inadequate to cover the full range of technical and creative needs required for the development of a complex video game.
When asked about the future of the video game industry in relation to the advent of these new technologies, the analysis moved to the perennial balance between artistic expression and commercial logic. According to this vision, there is a real risk that the sector could focus excessively on profit maximization to the detriment of content quality, a danger intrinsic to every commercial art form. Nonetheless, there remains a wide margin for creative growth, especially in the creation of those living and dynamic narrative experiences that have always represented the primary objective of high-profile productions.
The conclusion drawn outlines a scenario not of conflict, but of parallel coexistence. When asked which of the two forces, pure creativity or mere profit, will prevail in the long run, the answer suggests a bifurcation of the market. “It is foreseeable that the industry will be structured into two distinct parts, where both philosophies will find their space and their success, consolidating a trend already observable in different areas of the contemporary gaming landscape,” says Houser.