Issues aside, The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann said he believes AI technology will “revolutionize” how content is created.
Druckmann was interviewed on Sony's website as part of a presentation on the company's “Creative Entertainment Vision,” which the company describes as a long-term vision for “where we want to be in 10 years' time, with an eye toward future technological advances.”
When asked where he sees the intersection of storytelling and technology in the next decade, Druckmann said he thinks it's becoming easier for people without technical ability to fully realize the ideas they have in their head.
“This exciting marriage of cutting-edge technology and traditional storytelling is leading us into a future where increasing fidelity will not only deliver realism, but will also widen the range from highly stylized visuals to ultra-realistic,” he said.
“This expansion of possibilities is driven by increasingly accessible tools that allow non-technical people to use their imagination to create worlds and stories to their heart's content.”
Druckmann specifically cited AI as an example, saying that while there are problems that need to be solved, the technology itself can be used to expand the possibilities of game development.
“AI will revolutionize the way content is created, but it also raises some ethical issues that need to be addressed,” he explained.
“Technologies such as AI and the ability to do motion capture at home have reduced costs and technical hurdles, paving the way for us to take on more adventurous projects and push the boundaries of storytelling in games.”
“This evolution will empower creators to realize their vision without traditional obstacles.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Druckmann said Naughty Dog's next title could “redefine mainstream perception of gaming.”
Last year, he suggested the studio would announce its next game closer to its release date in order to address the “work-life balance issues” that arise from announcing what it's working on too early.
