Larians Publishing Director Critiques Elon Musks Vision of an Excellent AI-Generated Game

In a recent post on X, Elon Musk announced that his studio, xAI, aims to release «an excellent game created by AI» by the end of 2026. However, not everyone in the industry has taken this announcement seriously.

Michael Douse, the publishing director of Larian Studios, sharply reacted to Musk’s idea, stating that artificial intelligence cannot address the key issues in game development — the lack of leaders with a clear vision.

Douse reminded that the industry previously relied on parameters set by retail: it was the stores that established quality standards, pricing, and availability. With the shift to the digital age, those frameworks have disappeared, leading the market, according to him, to become a chaotic scramble for profit.

He also warned that while the integration of AI into game production is unavoidable, it should be approached with caution. Douse emphasized that the gaming experience loses its meaning when there is no mutual respect between creators and gamers, which in turn cannot exist without reverence for the craft. True craftsmanship is dependent on human involvement, skill, and a distinctive approach. If games are transformed into cold, emotionless digital content, they fail to resonate — after all, it is emotions that draw people to gaming.