GDC State of the Game Industry report: 40% of developers are using generative AI for work
The 2024 GDC State of the Game Industry report reveals 40% of developers now use generative AI, with mixed views on its impact and rising layoffs affecting half of studios.
The latest State of the Game Industry report from the Game Developers Conference shows 40% of developers are using generative AI in their work, up 4% from the previous survey. Survey lead Beth Elderkin notes the increase is smaller than before, with 57% of users applying the technology for text generation, research, prototyping, coding, and presentations. Generative AI adoption is highest among business operations, mobile-only studios, and free-to-play developers. AAA workers report more pressure to use AI than indie developers, at 27% compared to 9%.
The report highlights a 1% year-on-year rise in negative perceptions of AI’s impact on games, now at 55%, though the topic has stabilized after larger swings. Elderkin observes that the technology has shifted from theoretical discussions to practical use, with developers now making informed decisions about its application. The survey also reveals that 33% of respondents have been laid off in the past 24 months, with 50% of companies conducting redundancies. Layoffs are most prevalent in AAA studios at 68%, compared to 35% in established studios and 14% in younger indies.
Nearly half of respondents work for studios that have used external development in the past year, while 16% of non-co-development studios have started offering such services to diversify income. Self-funding remains common, with 50% of developers leveraging contract work or co-development to finance projects. Publishers are reportedly demanding stronger wishlists, social media followings, and polished prototypes before providing funding, adding pressure on developers to self-sustain.
PC remains the dominant platform for 81% of developers, followed by PlayStation 5 at 45% and Xbox Series X/S at 37%. Interest in VR, AR, and MR has declined sharply from 8% to 3%, with Elderkin attributing this partly to reduced focus from major companies like Meta. Unreal and Unity usage dropped by 7% and 2% respectively, while 23% of respondents use proprietary engines. Crunch and overtime persist, with 86% working over 40 hours weekly and 8% experiencing mandatory overtime.