The GDC asked game developers after 2025: Many rely on AI in their daily work, yet the rejection of the technology is significant. Nonetheless, artificial intelligence has become indispensable for the majority of game developers. Especially small teams cannot or do not want to forgo its assistance.
What kind of report is this? The Game Developer Conference publishes the “State of the Game Industry Report” annually, where the development of the market over the past year is examined. Typically, game developers are asked about the past year and how they are currently doing. In total, more than 2,300 developers and individuals from the gaming field were surveyed. You can find the report directly from GDC, but you have to provide personal data for the download.
The current “State of the Game Industry Report 2026” shows that AI plays a significant role in game development. However, although many developers are now using AI in their daily work, the majority still reject its use.
More than half of developers rely on AI, yet many still reject the technology
What do the numbers look like? The majority of respondents (52%) stated that they use AI tools in their daily work. The large majority of them use ChatGPT, closely followed by Google Gemini. One-third of respondents (35%) do not use AI for professional tasks. Even companies like Larian Studios have used AI for games like Baldur’s Gate 3.
Despite the active use of AI in daily life, the majority still rejects it. 52% of respondents believe that AI technology would have a negative impact on the video game industry. And that is 30% more than in the GDC survey of 2025.
According to GDC, most negative opinions come from employees in visual and technical arts (64%), game design and narrative (63%), as well as game programming (59%).
And even among those who do not want to use AI, they feel compelled to do so, as they claim they would risk their jobs otherwise. A Ukrainian developer is quoted as saying:
AI is theft. But I have to use it, otherwise I will be fired.
Are there any positive remarks? Yes, about 7% of respondents believe that generative AI has a positive impact on the gaming industry. However, the numbers are significantly lower than in 2025. Back then, 20% had a positive view.
Even Gabe Newell, head of Valve, recently stated that AI could make many individuals better developers. Specifically, better developers than people who have done nothing else for a decade. However, many developers are not really enthusiastic about this idea. The concern that it could ultimately cost them their jobs is significant: Gabe Newell believes: AI makes inexperienced people better programmers than 10 years of experience could.
