PlayStation Boss Says Games Will Be Made by People, Not AI

The head of PlayStation acknowledges that artificial intelligence (AI) could "revolutionize" gaming, but insists it will never replace the "human touch" in games created by people.

Hermen Hulst and co-CEO Hideaki Nishino spoke with the BBC as Sony marked the thirtieth anniversary of the console's launch.

The company has experienced a year of ups and downs, with the remarkable success of its PlayStation 5 console and games tempered by significant job cuts, a trend seen across the industry.

Game developers have faced a decline in demand following the pandemic, with some also expressing concerns about the impact of AI on employment.

Technological advancements could automate many of the more routine aspects of game development.

However, there is growing anxiety that AI could also take over the creative process, as evidenced by US voice actors striking over fears that the technology might replace them.

Mr. Hulst recognized that AI is transforming gaming, but emphasized that there will always be a place for human developers in the future.

"I suspect there will be a dual demand in gaming: one for AI-driven innovative experiences and another for handcrafted, thoughtful content," he told the BBC.

"Striking the right balance between leveraging AI and preserving the human touch will be crucial."

Discord over Concord

Since assuming leadership in June, the two bosses have encountered several challenging moments.

The highly anticipated shooting game Concord became a notable failure, with players receiving refunds and the studio eventually shutting down.

"Certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline," Mr Hulst said at the time. 

The company also faced backlash over the £699.99 price of its new PlayStation 5 Pro console, which offers enhanced game fidelity.

Additionally, the firm's two-person leadership structure has drawn attention in the industry, with Mr. Hulst primarily managing software and Mr. Nishino overseeing hardware.

"We can achieve greater focus in our respective areas and then come together to develop the best experiences for the PlayStation community," said Mr Nishino.

"I cannot express how happy we are with the reception of Astro Bot," Mr Hulst said.

Despite its success, Sony faces several challenges.

Its handheld consoles have traditionally struggled compared to its home consoles, and the CEOs declined to comment on the potential release of a new PlayStation Portable (PSP).

However, Mr. Nishino noted that the way players engage with games is evolving, highlighting the success of the PlayStation Portal, a device combining a controller and a screen.

While it initially only allowed players to stream games from a PS5 they already owned, that is set to change.

"Recently, we just announced a beta programme... allowing Cloud streaming directly to the handheld," he said.

"We’re always exploring various options for how players can play games."

The bigger picture

One area the company aims to further expand into is adapting games into films.

Earlier efforts by competitors, like 1993's Super Mario Bros and 1994's Street Fighter, were widely criticized.

However, recent adaptations, such as movie versions of the Mario, Sonic, and Pokemon franchises, have been much more successful.

Sony has been part of this trend with the 2023 series The Last of Us and the 2022 film Uncharted, both based on games developed by its in-house studio, Naughty Dog.

Mr. Hulst expressed that his vision for the future includes more game-to-film adaptations.

He cited 2018's God of War, which is being adapted into a show for Amazon Prime, as his favorite PlayStation game of the past 30 years.

"I am hoping to raise the PlayStation IP outside of just the gaming category and elevate it so it sits comfortably within the larger entertainment industry," he said.

Sneaking into toy stores

As the company looks to the future, it is also reflecting on the lasting popularity of the PlayStation console.

Although it was first released in Japan in December 1994, customers in the UK and US had to wait until September 1995 to experience it.

The PlayStation has become a massive success, with Sony's four home consoles before the PS5 each ranking among the top ten best-selling gaming systems of all time. The PS5 is on track to join them as well.

Although he is the CEO, Mr. Nishino shared that he didn't own a home console when he first started gaming; instead, he would go to a friend's house to play.

"I started to convince my parents to buy Nintendo’s Family Computer [known as the NES in the UK], but it was not an easy task," he said.

"Together with my little brother, we finally convinced our parents to give us one, but I felt it took forever."

For his joint CEO it was the other way round - he was prompted his mother, a toy store owner, to game.

"She was a bit scared of technology and would always call on me to demo the gaming devices to customers," Mr Hulst said.

"After hours, I would sneak into the store", he added.

"I surely developed my passion for games at this wonderful time in my life."