Electronic Arts (EA) is among the gaming companies showing interest in generative AI technology, with CEO Andrew Wilson expressing excitement about its potential for game development. However, former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider has raised concerns and criticized the EA executive for his views.
Dragon Age: Inquisition Lead Writer David Gaider Criticizes EA
On Twitter, Gaider expressed his skepticism by stating, “In case it’s unclear, the ‘hunger’ referred to here is the allure of a spreadsheet where the labour costs suddenly show as a teeny tiny bar compared to the other bars and a bunch of executives around a table nod and repeat ‘ROI’ and ‘good, yes, good’ over and over again.”
In case it’s unclear, the “hunger” referred to here is the allure of a spreadsheet where the labour costs suddenly show as a teeny tiny bar compared to the other bars and a bunch of executives around a table nod and repeat “ROI” and “good, yes, good” over and over again. https://t.co/akAMhghTzR
— David Gaider (@davidgaider) May 10, 2024
Having been part of EA subsidiary BioWare from 1999 to 2016, Gaider draws from his experience to criticize EA’s focus on AI. He linked EA’s emphasis on generative AI to the failed live-service game Anthem, a project he worked on before departing. Gaider believes that EA’s AI push is reminiscent of its live service approach, which negatively impacted Anthem. He also challenged EA’s assertion that developers are enthusiastic about integrating AI into their workflows.
In another tweet, Gaider remarked, “The execs heard about the New Thing™ and everyone (meaning all the Yes Men they’ve mentioned it to) think it’s super exciting, so now they’re going to parrot it at the folks doing the actual work . . . at least until reality inevitably manifests.”
Wilson has previously lauded the potential of AI, suggesting that generative AI could significantly speed up development processes within EA’s studios. He envisions a future where players can use EA’s AI technology to create their own content on a massive scale.