Despite industry rhetoric suggesting that generative AI will streamline production and help developers work more efficiently, a survey of more than 30 independent game developers reveals significant pushback against the technology. For many small studios, the perceived benefits of AI are outweighed by concerns regarding artistic integrity, legal exposure, and the long-term health of the industry.

The Argument for Human-Centric Development

Many indie creators view the act of making a game as the primary draw of their profession. Developers like Eric Berger and Bradley Boothe of Freshly Baked Games (Queen's Domain) argue that using AI is counterproductive. "Making things is the whole point," Boothe says. "It stops you from building important skills and understanding things."

This sentiment is echoed by other studios. Strange Scaffold maintains a strict anti-AI policy, with producer Manda Farough stating that the studio believes "so fervently in the power of human developers" that AI-generated content is viewed as a lesser product. Colin McInerney of the studio Pedalboard adds, "I would rather not be able to make games anymore than use generative AI."

Concerns for Industry Sustainability

Beyond the creative concerns, developers raised alarms about the impact of AI on industry employment and market saturation. Gregorios Kythreotis of Shedworks (Sable) warned that automating "mundane" tasks like writing barks removes essential opportunities for junior staff to learn the craft. "If we automate junior roles out of existence, the industry will suffer greatly," he says.

Joakim Sandberg (Iconoclasts) pointed to the risk of store platforms becoming flooded with low-quality, AI-generated apps that could bury legitimate projects. Other developers, such as Husban Siddiqi (Rogue Eclipse), characterized the push for AI as a strategy by organizations to reduce overhead at the expense of developers and players.

Nuanced Perspectives on AI Tools

While outright rejection is common, a small subset of developers expressed willingness to use AI for specific, non-creative technical support. For instance, some creators have used AI for:

  • Prototyping: Assistance with coding and generating examples.
  • Reference: Learning specific programming languages like Lua.
  • Debugging: Identifying errors in their own manual code.

However, even among these developers, there is a clear boundary. Paolo Pedercini (Future? No Thanks!) noted that while AI can be useful for coding support, he remains opposed to using the technology for visual assets. Similarly, Gabe Cazillo (Baby Steps) expressed deep uncertainty about the technology's long-term impact on his creative process, opting to avoid using AI for assets or primary code generation.

The "Loudly Manmade" Movement

In response to the growing presence of AI in media, some developers are explicitly marketing their commitment to human-made content. Studios like Artisan Games (Lost Hellden) and the creators of Rockbeasts emphasize that their games are entirely the product of human passion. For these developers, the process of creating art, animation, and dialogue is not an obstacle to be bypassed, but the essential value of the final product.