Gamescom Was Plagued By AI This Year

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 was a two-hour highlight reel of disappointment this year. There were occasional gems like Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons and Metro 2039 nestled between the endless dark fantasy soulslikes and anime-inspired action games, but the showstopping reveals were a remaster of a 10-year-old game and a remake of a 29-year-old game. That really says it all. But there was something else that was slightly off about the showcase. The whole thing had a veneer of AI to it.

If you felt the same, you weren't hallucinating. Nearly one in four reveals (13 of the 55 games shown, or 23.64%) either used AI in development or marketing. To come to this conclusion, TheGamer poured through interviews with developers, official blogs, and Steam disclosures for each reveal, while also cross-referencing a similar list that was shared with r/SocialistGaming by Reddit user FrostyMagazine9918. We found that the following 13 games utilized AI in some form:

These are just the games that admit to using AI. There are no doubt many more that belong on this list.

For instance, Capcom has vowed to "actively" use AI in development, while Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch is a staunch advocate for AI, with the recently announced Rideshare 'Stimulator' featuring everything from AI-generated voices and missions to localized dialogue and music. Monster Hunter Outlanders and Turok Origins very likely used AI at some point in development considering the studios' interest. There were also other HoYoverse titles featured throughout ONL, like Nodus Falls, where AI use may not yet be publicly disclosed.

AI was merely used for placeholder assets in many cases, but this has proven just as controversial among players. Putting aside the ethical considerations, a placeholder isn't created in a vacuum. It's there to communicate an artistic direction to the people building the final product. Indeed, this is why Larian Studios found itself under intense scrutiny last year after admitting to using AI in the early stages of Divinity's development.

1666 Amsterdam, Aion 2, Crimson Desert, Like or Die, Once Human, PUBG Ded.Net, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, Zoopunk

The Blood of the Dawnwalker, Train Sim World 7

23.64% will inevitably be lower than the actual figure. A recent BCG study found that 20% of new games disclosed the use of AI in Q3 2025, when in reality, an estimated 50% of studios now use AI in development. It'll be fascinating to revisit the complete list of 55 games in a year's time and see just how many actually used generative tools, because one in four is very likely a generous estimate. Considering Geoff Keighley's comment about skyrocketing computing prices at the start of the showcase, the fact that it featured so many games that utilize AI is a nice bit of irony to cap off a disappointing year for ONL.

سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.thegamer.com/gamescom-1-in-4-games-used-ai/