Former Naughty Dog artist says he worries ‘new tech’ will mean current games end up like historical buildings people marvel at
A former Naughty Dog artist has expressed concern that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, will fundamentally transform game development in ways that render contemporary handcrafted games as historical curiosities. The artist worries that as AI becomes increasingly integrated into the game development pipeline, today’s games—painstakingly created through traditional methods—will eventually be viewed by future generations with nostalgic admiration, much like how people today marvel at historical buildings and traditional craftsmanship.
The comparison is particularly striking: the artist fears that people in the future will look back at modern games and express amazement at the human effort involved, saying “wow, can you believe that was all done by hand?” This sentiment reflects broader anxieties within the gaming industry about AI’s potential impact on game development practices and artistic value.
The underlying concern is that AI-driven development will eventually become the industry standard, fundamentally changing how games are created and potentially devaluing the handcrafted approach that has defined game development for decades. By drawing parallels to historical architecture and craftsmanship, the artist highlights a fundamental shift in how human creativity might be perceived in an AI-integrated future—from the expected method to a quaint historical artifact.