Xbox Exec: Devs Who Ignore AI Shouldn't Be in Business

Ever wonder what Xbox higher-ups really think about AI in game development? Well, one of them just said the quiet part out loud. Brandon Stirrup, a senior business strategy manager at Microsoft, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on generative AI, and he didn't hold back.

Stirrup claims he "vibe coded a bad but improvable game in two days" with only three hours of active work. He says he's never attempted to make a video game before, but that didn't stop him from declaring that "anyone can build a game." According to him, there's "no point in a five-ten year plan absent AI in 2026" because "everything you plan for will be superseded." He even went as far as to say that if you're a game developer refusing to believe AI has a place in your future, "you should not be in the business of being a business."

That's a pretty bold statement from someone who admits he's never made a game. Stirrup also suggested that if he's suddenly let go from his position, it's "because I told you the truth that nobody wants you to know." He claims "hundreds" of Xbox employees actively use AI and that "gaming is the only industry pretending to not use AI." We can't verify those numbers, but it's worth noting that last year EA was reported to be making chatbots mandatory across the company. Is Xbox doing something similar? We don't know.

Multiple studios have either been caught using AI assets or admitted the tech was involved in development, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly negative. Stirrup's claim that devs shouldn't be in business if they aren't using AI is particularly flippant, especially when you consider massive hits like Palworld, Wardogs, and Slay the Spire 2 that presumably didn't rely on AI. He even provided a demo of a basic soccer sim that looks every bit like the three hours he says he put into it.

So what does this mean for the industry? It's clear that AI is a hot-button topic, and opinions are divided. While some see it as an inevitable future, others are skeptical. Stirrup's comments have certainly stirred the pot, and it'll be interesting to see how Xbox and other studios respond. Will AI become a standard tool in game development, or will there be a backlash? Only time will tell.

What do you think about AI in game development? Are you on board with Stirrup's vision, or do you think he's out of touch? Let us know in the comments!