Survey Indicates Falling Generative AI Use Among Game Developers

Use of generative AI among game developers has declined after rising sharply in 2025, according to new data from the Game Developer Collective and Omdia. The survey shows 29% of developers reported using generative AI tools in early 2026, compared with 36% during the same period in 2025.

In the second half of 2024, 24% of developers said they were using generative AI. Usage then rose by 12 percentage points from 2024 to 2025 before declining seven percentage points year-over-year in the latest survey.

Developer sentiment toward the technology remains cautious. Among respondents, 47% believed generative AI could negatively affect game quality, while 11% said it could improve it. These figures were largely unchanged into the first half of 2026.

Generative AI surveys reveal mixed developer sentiment

Some research points to different levels of adoption across the industry. A survey by the GDC Festival of Gaming found 36% of game industry professionals use generative AI tools. Among more than 2,300 respondents, 52% said they believe the technology is harmful to the industry.

Regional data suggests higher usage in certain markets. The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, which organizes the Tokyo Game Show, said 51% of game companies in Japan use generative AI, based on a survey of 54 firms, according to Nikkei.

A separate study commissioned by Google Cloud and conducted by The Harris Poll, published in August 2025, found broader use of AI systems across development workflows. That survey, covering 615 developers in the U.S., South Korea, Norway, Finland and Sweden, reported 87% use AI agents in their work. The report said 97% of respondents indicated generative AI is changing the gaming industry.

Despite that optimism, developers continue to raise concerns about data ownership, licensing and privacy. They have also pointed to environmental impact and the potential use of copyrighted material in AI training datasets.