More game developers use generative AI tools than last year

The GDC Festival of Gaming’s annual industry survey reveals that 40% of game developers now use generative AI tools in their work, up from 36% in 2025, according to The Verge.

Usage of AI tools is notably higher among developers working on free-to-play games, with 58% reporting use, and even more so among mobile-only studio workers at 70%.

The survey highlights ongoing debates within the gaming industry about generative AI, with some indie developers opposing the technology, while others have incorporated it to solve technical challenges during development.

For example, the developer House House used large language models sparingly to assist in the final development stages of their game Big Walk, showing AI's emerging role in game creation.

Additionally, AI is being applied to reverse-engineer retro games, and Xbox's CEO has suggested AI will enable smaller teams to create expansive worlds previously requiring large teams and budgets.

Overall, 73% of developers surveyed use AI for research and brainstorming, and 62% use it for other development tasks, indicating growing integration of AI in game development workflows.