Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Challenges Gaming Industry's AI Hype

Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser says AI is a long way from replacing real creativity in game development

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Sounding off: Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has offered a sobering evaluation of AI's role in game development. During an appearance on the UK TV show Sunday Brunch, Houser presented a view in sharp contrast to the high expectations set by giants such as EA and Microsoft - companies that have made substantial investments to automate creative processes and streamline large-scale content production. Instead, Houser emphasized that AI, while promising in some respects, currently falls short of its most ambitious claims. Houser's Absurd Ventures is exploring AI integration in both game development and narrative construction. The studio's current project is set in the same universe as Houser's novel "A Better Paradise," which itself grapples with themes of advanced AI and digital realities. Absurd Ventures is deploying AI specifically to generate both story content and dynamic in-game characters. Despite this experimentation, Houser maintained that the technology has not yet matured into a universally applicable tool. Computers have long been used to automate processes in gaming, but he drew a clear distinction: while today's AI models can automate discrete tasks - such as certain forms of procedural content generation or character interaction scripting - they often lack the nuance and adaptability required to tackle complex, open-ended creative challenges. Houser acknowledged that some facets of development do benefit from AI's current capabilities, notably in areas where repetitive or data-driven output is sufficient. Yet he criticized the pervasive notion that AI can be a cure-all for the industry's challenges, describing it as a "catch-all term for future computing" whose effectiveness is routinely overstated. Houser noted that game studios have aggressively marketed artificial intelligence as a solution to ballooning development costs, frequently in parallel with mass layoffs, further fueling the narrative that AI will replace human labor at scale. However, he asserted that most practical progress remains incremental, and that claims of imminent transformation are typically designed to attract shareholder investment rather than reflect the present state of the art. A central theme in Houser's critique is the tension between commercial imperatives and creative aspirations. According to his assessment, gaming as a medium is susceptible to losing sight of its artistic potential in the relentless pursuit of efficiency and monetization. Houser remains optimistic that interactive, narrative-driven experiences still offer substantial headroom for creative innovation, but he rejects the view that AI can supplant the depth and intentionality achieved by human designers and writers. The creative ceiling, he argues, remains high and dependent on the irreplaceable contribution of human judgment and storytelling sensibility.

Rockstar Games co-founder is dabbling with AI for his next game, but admits it's "not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet"

Rockstar Games co-founder and GTA 5 writer Dan Houser is dabbling with AI technology with his next game, but admitted "it's not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet". Houser appeared on Channel 4 show Sunday Brunch at the weekend, discussing the state of the games industry and rapid developments in AI technology. "With all things [the games industry] can either go somewhere really interesting or somewhere that gets overly focused on making money," said Houser of the future of the industry. "There's always that danger with any commercial artform that [companies] get distracted by money. But I think there's still a big ceiling creatively to make these kinds of living narrative experiences. I think that's what we were always trying to do [with the GTA games]." Houser appeared on the show ostensibly to promote his new book, A Better Paradise, on mainstream TV. Not only is the novel inspired by the AI revolution, making games, and the growth of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's also in the same world as his next game. Houser left Rockstar in 2020 to set up Absurd Ventures. Earlier this year, Houser lifted the lid on the studio's big project: Absurdaverse. Both his book and the studio's game will be set in the same world, but tell different stories. "With all these technology companies, people get rich and powerful on a scale almost nobody's ever seen before," Houser said on the wider technological context of the book. "They're give or take the richest people who ever lived and in some ways the most powerful people who ever lived in terms of influencing the world. And all the companies start out the same way: 'we're here to make things better, we're here to help people, we're here to fix the world'. And then they get this kind of Faustian moment where 'we're also going to get extremely rich and extremely powerful'. And things get corrupted." The game is still "another few years in development" he confirmed, but AI is informing both the story and the game's development. "In the story yeah there's lots of AI characters," said Houser. "We are dabbling in using AI. The truth is a lot of it's not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet. It's not going to solve all of the problems." Discussing game development further, he added: "We have a whole field of areas we need technology for and AI's great at some of the tasks and can't do the other tasks yet. So [AI companies] will claim it can solve every single problem and it really can't yet. As far as I understand it, it's a sort of hold-all term for all future computing and it's not really doing a lot of the stuff yet. But if we all give it all of our money, it might do in the future." And while a lot of chatter about AI is full of soundbites, Houser said this is often "to sell AI stock, or to convince everyone this is transformative", but admitted some use cases are "amazing". At the very least, Houser's novel appears timely. AI has become a huge talking point in the games industry in the past couple of years. Keywords Studios, for instance, has been experimenting with AI technology to see how it can be used for remasters; Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot believes AI is as big a revolution as the shift to 3D; and Nexon CEO Jungun Lee said it's "important to assume that every game company is now using AI". Other developers are firmly against using AI technology. "Maybe AI is a creative solution if you aren't a creative person," said the developers of Dispatch, for instance. PUBG creator Brendan Greene, meanwhile, said he was "really heartened to see the community revolt against AI stuff".

Rockstar co-founder critiques EA and Microsoft's AI expectations

Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, discussed artificial intelligence in game development during an appearance on the UK television show Sunday Brunch. He contrasted industry expectations from companies like EA and Microsoft with his assessment that AI remains distant from replacing human creativity, while detailing experiments at his studio Absurd Ventures. Houser's comments addressed the substantial investments made by major gaming firms to automate creative processes and produce large-scale content. EA and Microsoft have pursued AI to streamline operations, yet Houser described these efforts as setting expectations that exceed current capabilities. He positioned his perspective as a counterpoint, emphasizing AI's limitations in achieving genuine creative output. Absurd Ventures, the studio Houser co-founded, actively incorporates AI into its workflows for game development and narrative elements. This integration forms part of the studio's approach to leveraging technology without overreliance. The studio's ongoing project unfolds within the same universe as Houser's novel A Better Paradise. This novel examines themes of advanced AI systems and immersive digital realities, providing a thematic foundation for the game's exploration. Absurd Ventures applies AI tools to create story content and develop dynamic in-game characters. These applications allow for generation of narrative elements and character behaviors that respond to player inputs. Despite these uses, Houser stressed that AI has not advanced to the point of serving as a universal tool across all creative disciplines in gaming. Computers have facilitated automation in the gaming industry for decades, handling tasks like asset creation and basic scripting. Houser differentiated modern AI models from prior technologies by noting their ability to manage specific, isolated functions. For instance, AI supports procedural content generation, which builds environments or levels algorithmically based on predefined rules. It also aids in scripting character interactions, enabling dialogue trees or responses derived from data patterns. However, these models struggle with the subtlety and flexibility demanded by intricate, unstructured creative tasks, such as crafting overarching plots or emotionally resonant scenes. Certain development areas gain from AI's strengths in handling repetitive or data-intensive work. Examples include generating textures, animations, or statistical models for gameplay balance. Houser recognized these efficiencies but challenged the widespread perception of AI as a comprehensive solution to industry issues. He characterized AI as a broad label for emerging computational methods, often exaggerated in its promised impact on creative fields. Game studios frequently promote AI as a means to address escalating development expenses. This marketing occurs alongside announcements of significant staff reductions, reinforcing the idea that AI will substitute large portions of human roles. Houser observed that such strategies aim to appeal to investors by projecting rapid advancements. In reality, AI's contributions in practice advance gradually, through targeted improvements rather than sweeping overhauls. Claims of transformative breakthroughs serve more to secure funding than to mirror existing technological realities. Houser's analysis highlighted the conflict between business demands and artistic goals in gaming. Commercial pressures prioritize cost reduction and revenue generation, potentially diminishing the medium's capacity for original expression. Efficiency measures and profit-focused models can overshadow the development of innovative narratives and designs. Houser expressed confidence in the potential for growth in interactive, story-based games. These formats continue to provide ample opportunities for fresh ideas and engagement. He dismissed notions that AI could replicate the profound insights and purpose delivered by human creators. The upper limits of creativity in gaming depend on elements like discerning decision-making and narrative intuition, which remain uniquely human.

Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser: 'AI is not as useful as some companies would have you believe'

TL;DR: Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser offers a cautious view on AI in gaming, acknowledging its potential but emphasizing it cannot yet solve all development challenges. He stresses the continued importance of human creativity in crafting narrative-driven games, warning against overreliance on AI and commercial distractions in the industry. While EA, Ubisoft, and Microsoft all tout artificial intelligence, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has a more down-to-earth assessment of the new technology. AI is all the rage right now. We've seen major video game companies invest billions into artificial intelligence in the hopes of streamlining content production and eliminating wasteful spending. Almost every video games company in existence has laid off workers while simultaneously embracing AI, some in the tune of thousands of job eliminations. But one pretty high-ranking games industry creative isn't convinced that AI will be the savior of the games industry that it's hyped up to be. Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser was recently on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch show, and he had some interesting things to say about what AI can and can't do. In the interview, Houser confirms that he's using AI to develop new content for Absurd Ventures...but the technology is far from a magic wand. "In the story, there's lots of AI characters. We are dabbling in using AI, but the truth is a lot of it is not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet. It's not going to solve all of the problems." "We have a whole field of areas we need technology for, and AI's great at some of the tasks and can't do the other tasks yet. "So there are claims it can solve every single problem, and it really can't yet. As far as I understand it, it's a sort of hold-all term for all future computing, and it's not really doing a lot of the stuff yet. But if we all give it all of our money, it might [be able to do it] in the future." As for AI impacting the human creation side of games development and production, Houser says that he still believes in humans making narrative sagas: "[Like] with all things, [gaming] can either go somewhere really interesting or somewhere that gets overly focused on making money,

Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Thinks AI Is Overhyped

GTAV and RDR2’s writer notes that AI isn’t capable of genuine creative work AI's biggest boosters promise a near-future where advanced levels of automation do, well, everything. Rockstar cofounder Dan Houser, who helped write Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, isn’t convinced. He recently commented that while LLM tech can impress, it’s far from the magic solution many are hyping it up to be. Houser appeared over the weekend on Sunday Brunch, a British talk show, to talk about his studio and entertainment company Absurd Ventures, and to plug his new novel, A Better Paradise (h/t PCGamesN). Given the novel’s focus on AI characters, and the state of the tech industry and game development, it was only natural for the hosts to ask what Houser thinks of real AI and whether he’s making use of it in his creative works. “We are dabbling in using AI,†Houser said, “but the truth is a lot of it’s not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe.†Houser pushed back on the rather eccentric promises of tech CEOs, “they will claim it can solve every single problem, and it really can’t yet.†Houser’s comments follow some recent controversy surrounding AI and video games. Call of Duty recently caught some heat for its rather obnoxious use of fully AI-generated images in-game. Meanwhile, Ubisoft is going all in on AI tools to produce future games, recently showing off what it calls the “first playable generative AI research project.†But as Houser argues, much of the hype surrounding the tech is “just to sell AI stock,†and all of its promises seem only possible “if we give it all of our money.†He notes that many automated processes are simply a fact of modern computing and are typically best at doing rather boring and mundane tasks. Houser hasn’t ruled out the tech entirely, saying that it will “be interesting to see†how AI grows in its capacity to handle more precious creative tasks, he sounds much more skeptical than some developers who tout AI as the next revolution for gaming.

Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is making a game set in the same world as his new novel about devs who create a "self-loathing" AI, and is "dabbling" with using real AI in its development

But the developer thinks the technology is sometimes overhyped "just to sell AI stock" Dan Houser, best known for his work writing video games like the Red Dead and Grand Theft Auto series, is creating a video game based on his recently released novel about an AI gone wrong. Last year, he wrote an audio drama about a game studio that created an AI agent that is "riddled with self-loathing," and has just released a novelization of that podcast series. A Better Paradise - Volume One: An Aftermath is just the beginning of a new series for Houser. Speaking on Sunday Brunch, the Rockstar co-founder doesn't just discuss his new book, but the game he's been making in the same setting. "We are making a game set in the same world, but not exactly the same story," Houser says. "We've begun work on that about 18 months ago, and that'll be another few years in development." Despite his book asking the question, "What happens if this [AI revolution] goes wrong?" Houser hasn't shied away from "dabbling" with AI in his next game's development. However, he is skeptical of how the technology is being marketed, suggesting that some outlandish claims made in its advertising are "just to sell AI stock." "We are dabbling in using AI," Houser says. "But the truth is a lot of it is not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet. It's not gonna solve all of the problems." He goes on to explain that the tech will need a lot more investment to develop the "last 20%." "[People] will claim it can solve every single problem," Houser says. "It really can't yet. [...] But if we all give it all of our money, it might do in the future." He also thinks that what AI can currently do is being oversold, as there are already technologies that can achieve the same results. "A lot of those processes, computers already are doing," Houser explains. "So some of [AI's marketing] is just to sell AI stock, or to convince everyone this is transformative, [but] other stuff it does is amazing."