Videogame developers lean on AI agents to cut costs
A new Google Cloud survey shows that nearly 90% of videogame developers now rely on AI agents, with most using them to speed up repetitive work and reduce ballooning costs. The study highlights how the industry, fresh off mass layoffs, is turning to automation as both a survival tactic and a creative reset.
Videogame developers embrace AI agents for routine tasks
The report, conducted with The Harris Poll, surveyed 615 developers across the U.S., South Korea, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. An overwhelming majority said AI was taking over time-consuming jobs—things like cleaning up assets, managing code, or generating content. By offloading grunt work, developers are freer to focus on design, storytelling, and mechanics.
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Videogame developers see AI agents as cost control
Studios are struggling under pressure from soaring budgets and extended development cycles. Publishers hope AI can help keep projects on track and wallets intact. According to the study, 94% of developers believe AI will drive down overall costs long term. Roughly 44% already use AI agents for handling text, audio, voice, video, and code at speed—tasks that previously ate up months of labor.
Key takeaways from the Google survey:
- 87% of developers use AI agents today
- 94% expect AI to cut costs over time
- 44% apply AI to content and information processing
- 63% worry about data ownership and licensing risks
- About one in four still struggle to measure return on AI investments
The backlash against AI in gaming
Despite the optimism, adoption isn’t without controversy. Some developers worry about shrinking job opportunities, shaky IP ownership, and pressure to accept lower pay. Hollywood’s videogame performers went on strike last year over AI’s role in performance capture and compensation, highlighting wider unease. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 industry jobs disappeared as studios downsized, adding more tension to the debate.
AI agents as a double-edged tool
While AI promises speed and savings, its long-term impact remains a live question. Some developers see it as a way to survive rising expectations from players and fierce competition between publishers. Others see it as a shortcut that could hollow out the human side of game-making. For now, what’s clear is this: the videogame developers already using AI are shaping the next era of how games get made.
