Employees of Minecraft developer Mojang discuss generative AI in game development
It appears that generative AI may not be making its way into the popular open-world survival game Minecraft anytime soon. Recently, employees of Mojang, the developer behind Minecraft, shared their perspectives on the role of generative AI in game development at an event.
According to IGN, Agnes Larsson, the Vanilla game director for Minecraft, expressed some hesitancy towards incorporating AI into the game development process. Larsson emphasized the importance of human creativity and touch in the creation of Minecraft, stating, “Minecraft is about creativity and creating. It’s important that it makes us feel happy to create as humans.”
Additionally, Ingela Garneij, the Vanilla executive producer, highlighted the unique qualities of Minecraft that are challenging to replicate through AI. Garneij underscored the significance of in-person interactions and collaboration in capturing the essence of Minecraft, describing the game as a massive and intricate world that requires a human touch.
While Mojang seems to prioritize human input in game development, other studios under Microsoft, such as the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, have embraced generative AI tools to create game assets. Microsoft also introduced Project Muse, a generative AI model aimed at enhancing gameplay experiences and preserving older games.
Despite the potential benefits of generative AI, its integration raises ethical and environmental concerns. The decision to maintain a human-centric approach in Minecraft aligns with the game’s core values of fostering human creativity and exploration.