Konami Digital Entertainment president Hideki Hayakawa believes generative artificial intelligence will not significantly transform the video game market.
He argues that human creativity and collaboration remain central to developing innovative games, according to Konami Group's Integrated Report for the fiscal year ending March 2026.
His assessment challenges the expectation that AI tools will dramatically expand access to game development.
The report notes that existing game engines and user-generated content platforms have already lowered barriers for people who want to create games.
That trend limits the extent to which AI alone could reshape the market.
Efficiency Gains, but People Remain Key
Hayakawa acknowledged that AI could improve production efficiency.
However, he emphasized that technological assistance cannot replace the people responsible for creating engaging experiences.
"Even if AI use does lead to improvements in production efficiency, I believe that the most important factors in producing entertaining and innovative video games are people and creators," Hayakawa said.
He also highlighted the collaborative nature of modern game development, where teams bring together people with different professional backgrounds and perspectives.
According to Hayakawa, combining these ideas can produce original gameplay concepts that individual contributors might not develop independently.
"That kind of chemical reaction is not something that can be easily replaced," he said.
His comments do not rule out AI adoption at Konami.
The report describes technological advances as opportunities to explore new gaming experiences while maintaining safeguards around their implementation.
Hayakawa said Konami provides structured support to help developers understand emerging technologies, evaluate potential risks and determine how to use them responsibly.
"Even when it comes to epoch-making technological innovations, Konami provides systematic support so that creators can get a grasp of new technologies, properly assess the risks they may bring, and safely apply them to game development," he said.
The company's position comes as game developers across the industry assess how generative AI could affect production workflows, creative decisions and the use of existing intellectual property.
Some studios have explored AI for behind-the-scenes tasks, while others have faced criticism over AI-generated material in released games.
Konami's report also emphasizes the role of user-generated content in expanding gaming experiences.
Platforms and games that let players create their own content have already enabled communities to develop and share new experiences using established tools.
This supports Hayakawa's argument that creative participation predates the latest advances in AI.
Konami's broader gaming portfolio includes established franchises such as Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Castlevania.
Its recent development activity includes Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, produced in cooperation with independent studio Evil Empire.
The company continues to invest in its established video game properties.
