Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead says AI “may mean the demise of humanity” and the “end of most big publishers,” but if “AI can help me make an epic game in a year with a smaller team like in the old days, I’m all for it”

by

Following recent discussions about AI in games – sparked by comments from Baldur’s Gate 3’s Larian Studios and the use of AI in the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – the lead writer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Daniel Vávra, has shared his rather unsettling vision of how AI might be used in future games.

Vávra recently shared his thoughts on AI-generated art in a lengthy Twitter post, admitting he’s not a fan but acknowledging its growing presence. He expressed concern about the technology, particularly in music, noting that AI-created pieces are becoming indistinguishable from human-made work. While he finds it unsettling, he recognizes that AI is now a permanent part of our world.

Actually, that wasn’t the most frightening thing he said. What really worried people was his prediction that artificial intelligence could eventually lead to humanity’s extinction. On a lighter note, though, those of us who survive the apocalypse might find it easier to create video games.

According to Vávra, the rise of AI could have huge consequences, potentially even threatening humanity, but it also offers incredible opportunities. He believes AI will dramatically lower the cost of creation, allowing anyone to bring their ideas to life. Making a game could become as simple as writing a book, leading to a surge in new games, a revival of specialized genres, and potentially some truly exceptional titles. While there will undoubtedly be a lot of low-quality content, Vávra points out that this is true of books and music as well, and it shouldn’t overshadow the potential for innovation.

It’s impossible to say where AI will ultimately lead – not just in gaming, but for humanity as a whole. While some, like Vávra, are very optimistic and believe AI will be as impactful as major inventions like those from the Industrial Revolution, not everyone shares that view.

Honestly, trying to fight this feels totally pointless, like getting upset about people switching from hand-sewing to sewing machines. It’s like saying we should all go back to riding horses when we have airplanes and cars! It makes you think about all those horse breeders who lost their jobs when Henry Ford started making cars – progress happens, and you can’t really stop it.

Veteran game developer Vávra believes the industry is facing big changes, suggesting many large publishers and even Hollywood are becoming outdated. However, he’s optimistic about the potential of AI, seeing it as a tool to help developers like himself create ambitious games more quickly and with smaller teams. He’d love to be able to make an epic game in a year, similar to how games were made in the past. While some worry AI will lead to job losses, Vávra clarifies he’s primarily referring to AI that assists with repetitive tasks, freeing up artists, writers, programmers, and designers to focus on the more creative and important aspects of game development.

He believes a key advancement in game AI will be non-player characters (NPCs) that offer a virtually limitless range of interactions.

Imagine being able to ask any character in a role-playing game absolutely anything – like directions, or even what they think of the people around them. We now have the technology – tools like 11labs – to create characters with unique personalities, knowledge, and opinions, allowing for truly open-ended conversations.

This is a game-changer for how players experience non-story elements. Because there are endless possibilities in those moments, you can’t rely on a single actor performance. However, you can pre-record scenes and important story conversations. For everyday interactions – like ordering food or asking for directions – you don’t need a professional, award-winning performance.

He appears to support using generative AI for some aspects of in-game performances, which is a somewhat divisive topic. A producer at Larian Studios recently expressed concern about using AI for even small voice acting roles, arguing it limits opportunities for new actors.

Read More

2025-12-18 01:11