Will AI replace video game developers?
Updated
Video game designers score 54 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 76%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 8% outright, and 16% stays with people.
- 8% AI can do it
- 76% AI helps
- 16% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 83% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 24 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 2 of them today, speeds up 18 and leaves 4 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines. AI drafts and updates design docs; designer checks accuracy. | 65% AI can do it |
| Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff. AI can draft test specs; QA leads validate and approve them. | 62% AI can do it |
| Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue. LLMs draft dialogue fast; voice and tone need writer review. | 60% AI helps |
| Create gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups. AI drafts test plans quickly; scope and priorities need review. | 60% AI helps |
| Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play. AI drafts mission and puzzle ideas; designer picks and refines. | 50% AI helps |
| Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise. LLMs draft storylines and bios; creative direction stays human. | 50% AI helps |
| Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff. AI helps draft docs and schedules; coordination stays human. | 50% AI helps |
| Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices. Image tools make flowcharts and mockups; layout judgment stays human. | 45% AI helps |
| Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction. AI drafts item lists and economy math; audio taste stays human. | 45% AI helps |
| Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management. AI coding tools speed prototypes; core feel needs play testing. | 40% AI helps |
Show the other 14 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software. AI sketch tools speed initial drafts; design taste stays human. | 40% AI helps |
| Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product. Tuning needs playtest data and human judgment on fun. | 35% AI helps |
| Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features. AI can draft written notes; tactful critique needs a person. | 35% AI helps |
| Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups. AI image tools speed 2D concepts; 3D mockups need manual work. | 35% AI helps |
| Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas. AI can summarize and compare competitor products quickly. | 35% AI helps |
| Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design. AI can sort feedback; weighing it stays with people. | 30% AI helps |
| Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design. AI can flag spec gaps; production decisions stay with people. | 30% AI helps |
| Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision. AI analyzes telemetry; overseeing play sessions stays human. | 30% AI helps |
| Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences. AI summarizes trend reports; attending events stays human. | 30% AI helps |
| Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers. AI can build slides; live pitching to leaders stays human. | 25% AI helps |
| Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style. Visual direction is collaborative; AI mood boards only assist. | 22% Needs a person |
| Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features. Stakeholder consultation is human; some feature coding is assisted. | 22% Needs a person |
| Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process. Design reviews are live meetings led by people. | 15% Needs a person |
| Guide design discussions between development teams. Facilitating live design debates needs human presence and authority. | 12% Needs a person |
How video game designers compare
All occupations (923)
Computer and mathematical (36)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $104,000 a year, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +6.0% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Prototype mechanics in Unity using C# scripts
- Build levels and mission outlines in Unreal Engine
- Query playtest telemetry with SQL and Excel
- Lead live design reviews with artists and programmers
- Set creative direction for storylines and character biographies
- Review AI-drafted dialogue for voice and tone
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about video game designers and AI
Will video game developers be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly drafting design documentation and test specifications. Storylines, creative direction, and the final calls on what ships still rest with the designer.
Will AI take over game design?
AI can already do 8% of the task time in game design and speeds up another 76%. People still do 16% of it.
Which video game design tasks is AI taking over?
Design level documentation, test specifications, and game dialogue. Design documentation scores 65 on exposure, the highest in this job, because AI drafts and updates it while the designer checks accuracy. Test specifications score 62 because AI drafts them and QA leads approve them.
Which video game design tasks stay human?
Guiding design discussions between teams, running design reviews, and setting visual style with artists. These are live meetings where people hold the authority to make decisions. AI mood boards can assist visual direction, but the artist and designer still agree on the style.
How can video game designers stay valuable?
Prototype mechanics yourself in Unity or Unreal Engine, since a playable build proves a design faster than a document. Query playtest telemetry with SQL and summarize it in Excel, then run the design reviews that decide what ships. Keep the creative direction on storylines and character biographies in your hands.
Related jobs
Next steps for video game designers
Check which roles in your team AI can take on
We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first.
Related topics
- Jobs AI can't replaceCement masons score lowest, at 8.
- Jobs most at risk from AIProofreaders score highest, at 76.
- High-paying jobs with low AI exposureRadiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.
- Entry-level jobs with low AI exposureCement masons need little prior training and score 8.
- Jobs AI speeds up the mostFor natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.
- AI and jobs in Malta15 iGaming roles graded task by task.
- Skills that keep work humanThe skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.
- Jobs A to ZEvery job we publish, by first letter.
- AI exposure by industryAverage scores for 22 occupation groups.
- Write a CV screening software can readHow applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.
- AI for businessesThe tasks to automate first in each team and industry.
- How we score AI exposureThe grading, the weights and every source.