Masahiro Sakurai believes gen-AI will cause a surge of unoriginal games
Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, has shared his views on the impact of generative AI on game development. While he anticipates a surge in unoriginal video games driven by the technology, he maintains that human creativity cannot be replicated by algorithms.
In an interview with the Japanese outlet Denfaminicogamer, Sakurai discussed the massive expansion of the gaming market. He noted that while 275 games were published on Steam in 2010, that number has skyrocketed to over 19,000 this year. He expects this trend to accelerate due to AI, but warned that many of these will become "unprofitable titles" that are impossible to track or fully understand.
According to the director, AI-generated or mass-produced low-quality games will largely consist of reproductions of existing gameplay systems. He pointed to simple puzzle games—such as those involving organizing libraries or finding objects in a haystack—as concepts that AI can easily replicate. This phenomenon is already visible in the industry, where viral hits often see a rapid influx of clones shortly after their release.
However, Sakurai believes that AI will struggle to replicate the profound artistic vision of designers like Fumito Ueda, the acclaimed creator of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. His reasoning is rooted in the fundamental nature of the technology: AI relies on existing data and cannot truly create something that has never been seen before.
As the era of mass-produced, low-quality content expands, Sakurai suggests that developers who "forge their own path" and possess a unique creative flavor will become increasingly vital. This shift comes as the industry grapples with the rise of "AI slop," which has contributed to a significant increase in the number of demos at events like Steam Next Fest.
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