Warhorse CEO: AI Replacing Devs Is a 'Fundamentally Flawed Idea'

Ever wonder what would happen if AI took over game development? According to Warhorse Studios CEO Martin Klima, it's a terrible idea. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Klima didn't hold back, calling the notion of replacing devs with generative AI a "fundamentally flawed idea." He explained that AI isn't a magic solution: "It doesn't work how people imagine in a very simplified mental model." In other words, you can't just plug in an AI and expect it to create a game as complex as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

Klima's point is simple: AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. "AI is not a get out of jail free card," he said. That's a sentiment echoed by industry legend Hideo Kojima, who also sees AI as a tool but doesn't want it taking jobs. So why are so many studios rushing to use AI? Klima suggests it's because they think it'll cut costs. But he warns that's not how it works. Instead, AI could help make development more efficient, leading to bigger games rather than cheaper ones.

"It can mean [the game] has more branching classes," Klima said. "It can mean it has more missions to play, whatever." He added, "People will still want to have this bigger game. While AI may not reduce the cost of the game, it will allow us to create bigger games for the same cost." So, if used right, AI could give us more content, not fewer developers. But right now, that's not what's happening. Many studios are using AI to generate assets wholesale, which often leads to backlash and a return to human-made work.

For a team like Warhorse, which is relatively modest in size for the scale of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, AI could help with administrative tasks, freeing up devs to focus on creative work. But Klima's warning is clear: don't expect AI to replace the human touch that makes games special. It's a debate that's only going to heat up as AI becomes more prevalent in game development.

So, what do you think? Is AI the future of game development, or should we keep it as a tool and nothing more? Will you be picking up Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 when it drops? Let us know in the comments!