By “It’s not the exclusive method to game development”
- by Jim Norman
Clearly, this is an urgent topic within the gaming industry today, making it inevitable for Doug Bowser, the head of Nintendo of America, to be asked about the growing influence of AI in game creation during his discussions regarding Switch 2. Thankfully, his response was notably supportive of human creativity.
Bowser (not that one) explored the role of AI in gaming with CNBC‘s Steve Kovach at the recent hands-on event for the Switch 2 in New York, indicating that it can be used in the workplace to enhance productivity: “even in my company, it can improve productivity and streamline our tasks.” Nevertheless, he emphasized that “it’s not the exclusive method to game development,” confirming that for Nintendo, “there will always, always, be a human touch and human input in how we design and shape our games.”
“What distinguishes our games is our developers, their artistic skills, and their comprehension of player behavior,” Bowser expressed to the American news outlet, hinting that we shouldn’t anticipate any Nintendo-endorsed bots attempting to play Mario anytime soon.
CNBC has made the entire interview available as a video online, and a transcript of Bowser’s insights regarding the AI topic can be found below:
I often find myself reluctant to speak for the developers because I want them to focus on their craft and creations. However, for those seeking an authentic experience overall, as we evaluate technology, we must prioritize ensuring that the technology we utilize—be it in our game creation or within our devices—enhances the gameplay experience. This is where it begins and leads back to the joy I mentioned earlier, making it a critical part of our decision-making regarding AI usage. Of course, AI is currently in vogue, being applied broadly in various manners—it can improve productivity, even in my organization. While this is one use, I would assert that if developers opt to incorporate AI—and this is actively debated at Nintendo—it should not be the main approach to game development. We still hold the belief that what makes our games exceptional are our developers, their imaginative skills, and their understanding of player interaction. Thus, there will always, always be a human touch in how we create our games.