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Netflix is going all in on using generative AI to build games, weeks after the company shut down an internal studio focused on creating "AAA" games.
On Sunday, Netflix executive Mike Verdu announced he'd been named VP of GenAI for Games. “At long last, I am ready to talk about what I'm doing next: I am working on driving a ‘once in a generation’ inflection point for game development and player experiences using generative AI,” he said in a post on LinkedIn.
“This transformational technology will accelerate the velocity of development and unlock truly novel game experiences that will surprise, delight, and inspire players,” according to Verdu, who had been serving as VP for Netflix Games.
The news may spark concern about Netflix using AI instead of human developers. In his post, Verdu said human creative talent will remain at the center of the game development process "with AI being a catalyst and an accelerant."
"AI will enable big game teams to move much faster, and will also put an almost unimaginable collection of new capabilities in the hands of developers in smaller game teams,” he said.
Verdu argued that today’s generative AI technology could help developers pump out new games on a monthly basis, like how the game industry did during the 1990s at Nintendo and Sega. “We're back to those days of seemingly unlimited potential and the rapid pace of innovation, which resulted in mind-blowing surprises for players every few months,” Verdu said.
Some companies have shown that generative AI can automatically create levels and character designs for a game, write never-ending dialogue for NPCs, or even run a game without using traditional computer code.
Others, including Microsoft and EA, are embracing AI for game development. Nintendo appears to be taking a more cautious approach over concerns that generative AI might accidentally steal elements from existing titles. It's unclear whether games that rely heavily on generative AI will still be fun and popular.
Netflix didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But in his post, Verdu dismissed any speculation that the company is facing turmoil in its gaming divisions. “Pay no mind to the uninformed speculation in the media about the changes in Netflix Games. What you've seen over the last several months was actually a planned transition,” he said.