Game Developers Increasingly Skeptical of Generative AI Despite Rising Usage

A new GDC survey shows a decline in positive sentiment toward AI tools, with concerns over quality, job losses, and ethical issues growing.

The 2025 GDC State of the Game Industry survey reveals that only 13% of developers view generative AI positively, down from 21% in 2024.
Negative perceptions of AI tools have risen sharply, with 30% of respondents now seeing them as harmful to the industry, up from 18% last year.
While 36% of developers report using AI tools, adoption is highest in non-creative roles like business, finance, and marketing, rather than game programming or art creation.
Concerns about generative AI include low-quality output, risks of intellectual property theft, environmental impact, and potential for job losses in an already layoff-prone industry.
The survey highlights broader instability in gaming, with 11% of respondents experiencing layoffs in 2024, disproportionately affecting narrative and art roles.