The video game industry found itself in a heated debate over the weekend about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in game development, particularly in relation to voice acting and performance capture.
The main instigator? Christoph Hartmann, the head of Amazon Games, known for such hits such as New World and Crucible, which no one really remembers.
Hartmann recently expressed his support for increased AI integration in video game production while seemingly dismissing the importance of voice actors, much to the collective chagrin of the internet.
In a recent interview, Hartmann shared his vision, saying that AI will help streamline the video game development process and reduce production times. He argued that the current five-year development cycle for AAA games is too long, suggesting that AI could help shorten this to around three years. This, he believes, would allow for more iteration and potentially lower budgets.
However, Hartmann's negative comments on voice acting, saying "For games, we don't really have acting," has received criticism for its inaccuracy and for dismissing the crucial role that voice actors and motion capture performers play in modern game development.