Dragon Age setting creator says AI push is a delusion of the executive class that’s a ‘virulent plague’ on games
David Gaider, the veteran BioWare writer and creator of the Dragon Age setting, has become the latest industry voice to criticize generative AI, calling it a “virulent plague” on the games industry. Speaking to GamesRadar, Gaider—who co-founded Summerfall Studios and recently worked on the roguelite deckbuilder Malys—outlined several specific concerns about AI’s impact on game development.
Gaider argues that AI-generated content produces inferior work and, more critically, eliminates entry-level opportunities that junior writers rely on to learn their craft. He also emphasized the iterative challenges of working with AI-generated material, describing it as difficult to refine and improve. Beyond technical concerns, Gaider raised ethical questions about how generative AI is frequently trained on creator data without explicit permission or compensation from content owners and developers.
When questioned about potential benefits, Gaider questioned whether AI actually improves efficiency in game development workflows. His perspective reflects growing concerns within the creative industry about AI’s impact on employment, creative quality, and the rights of artists whose work has been used to train AI systems without consent. This sentiment aligns with broader industry concerns about AI replacing creative roles and potentially lowering standards for game narratives.