Square Enix Plans AI-Driven QA Revolution Sparks Industry Debate Over Human vs. Automated Testing

Larian publishing director balks at Square Enix's push to replace QA workers with AI: 'The idea that QA people can be replaced at a large scale is stupid ... They are a massively advantageous vibe check'

Quality assurance -- the sacred task of making sure games break as infrequently as possible -- is a non-negotiable part of development, especially when you're talking about big triple-A RPGs. It's something the folks at Square Enix and Larian know a thing or two about; but while the higher-ups at

After chasing NFTs and the metaverse, Square Enix wants generative AI to do 70% of its QA by 2027

Square Enix wants 70% of its QA work to be handled by generative AI by the end of 2027, in partnership with the University of Tokyo's Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory. Announced in a progress report for last year's Mid-Term Business Plan, the company notes its reason for doing so, the hope that: "through

Final Fantasy Maker Wants Generative AI To Fix 70% Of Game Bugs

Square Enix is currently in the middle of a reboot. Following a bunch of flops (remember Foamstars?) and some great games held back by timed exclusivity (Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth), the RPG publisher has been pivoting to a multiplatform approach and retooling its slate of

Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead slams Square Enix's push to automate 70% of debugging with AI: "The idea that QA people can be replaced at a large scale is stupid"

Larian's Michael Douse says QA workers "know what is good and what is bad before the audience does." Square Enix recently doubled down on its commitment to AI and shared that it's planning to "automate 70% of QA" in the next few years. But it's an initiative that Baldur's Gate 3 publishing

Square Enix: "70% of QA and debugging tasks" for games should be done by AI

For over ten years, there has been an epidemic of AAA games being released in an unfinished state, with us gamers expected to pay full price and then act as unpaid beta testers. It's a nasty scheme, but it seems to be working, as we see no desire to change the concept. However, Square Enix has its

Square Enix Is Pushing Hard for AI in Game Development, Planning to Let It Handle 70% Of QA By 2027

Square Enix is the latest video game publisher to push for AI usage in video game development, aiming to let it handle a critical part of development almost completely by 2027. As part of the company's latest earnings report, the Japanese publisher shared a Progress Report on its Medium-Term

Mass layoffs hit Square Enix hours after it shares plans to have AI handle "70%" of its quality assurance and debugging soon

Square Enix also revealed plans to shift development to Japan Layoffs have hit Square Enix in the US and UK, with upwards of 100 employees reportedly impacted. Several laid-off employees confirmed the news on social media. I reached out to Square Enix for comment and clarification, and received

Square Enix's multiplatform plan is already working, but it still wants to follow up a Dragon Quest roguelike and Dissidia Final Fantasy with more mobile games based on "major IPs" and "automate 70% of QA" with AI

The house of Final Fantasy wants to "establish a competitive advantage in game development" with AI tech Square Enix's latest update on its three-year business "reboot" has shed light on the company's future plans, so expect more multiplatform releases and mobile games based on the publisher's