Former Dragon Age writer says AI could make gamedev ‘frustrating as hell’: ‘How are we going to train up the next generation of devs if we eliminate every entry-level task?’
David Gaider, former BioWare writer and lead writer on the first three Dragon Age games, raised concerns about generative AI’s potential negative impact on game development in an interview with GamesRadar.
Gaider highlighted two primary issues with AI integration into development pipelines. First, he pointed out that AI’s inconsistency makes it difficult for teams to properly appraise, troubleshoot, and clean up generated content. Developers would spend significant time touching up AI output without necessarily understanding why the AI produced a particular result, adding friction rather than removing it.
More broadly, Gaider expressed concern about the career implications of AI adoption. He questioned how the industry will train the next generation of developers if entry-level tasks—often considered ’tedious busy work’—are automated away. These foundational tasks have historically been crucial learning experiences for junior developers entering the industry.
The comments reflect a growing tension in game development: while AI is promoted as a tool to eliminate repetitive work and boost efficiency, its adoption could inadvertently damage the career pipeline that produces skilled developers and may create more work through quality control challenges.