Famous game director Fumito Ueda says his studio does not use AI for ‘game development’
Renowned game director Fumito Ueda, best known for creating Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian, has clarified his studio GenDesign’s stance on generative AI use during the development of their upcoming sci-fi adventure Gen Atlas.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Ueda stated that while GenDesign does employ AI tools, they are strictly limited to project management and administrative tasks. These include creating schedules, summarizing meeting notes, and retrieving information about how to use new software tools. The director emphasized that “everything that is considered game development” is “made by humans,” distancing the studio from the broader industry trend of integrating generative AI into creative workflows.
This statement comes amid growing discussion within the gaming industry about the appropriate role of AI in game development. As generative AI tools have become increasingly accessible and sophisticated, studios face mounting pressure to clarify their policies on AI usage—both to address concerns from creative professionals and to manage public perception around artificial intelligence in creative fields.
Ueda’s position suggests GenDesign sees value in leveraging AI for efficiency gains in non-creative, operational aspects of game development, while maintaining a human-centered approach to the actual creative and technical work that goes into making the game itself. This measured stance reflects ongoing tension in the industry between technological innovation and concerns about the displacement of human creators.