Palworld studio says ‘gamers don’t want’ AI in their games: ‘It feels like everyone who is super gung-ho about it isn’t from the industry’
Pocketpair’s head of publishing and communication, John Buckley, has reiterated his studio’s criticism of artificial intelligence in game development, arguing that gamers fundamentally oppose the technology’s integration into games.
In an interview with GamesRadar, Buckley compared the current AI enthusiasm in gaming to the early cryptocurrency boom, describing the push for AI adoption as “very intrusive.” He characterized the situation as dominated by advocates who lack practical experience in the gaming industry itself, contending that industry insiders are far less enthusiastic about AI implementation.
Buckley’s comments come amid a significant influx of AI-labeled games appearing on Steam. The platform’s recent enforcement of AI disclosure labels has exposed the scale of AI integration attempts in indie and larger game projects alike. This transparency has sparked debate throughout the industry, with high-profile examples like the newly-released Crazy Taxi game generating considerable controversy over its use of AI technology.
The statements from Pocketpair’s publishing lead reflect growing skepticism within established game development circles about AI’s practical benefits and appeal. As the gaming community grapples with AI’s role in game creation, industry veterans like Buckley are pushing back against what they perceive as overenthusiastic adoption driven by non-gaming entities and investors rather than developers and players themselves.