Looking to the future of the industry, Naughty Dog studio head and creative chief Neil Druckmann says AI will help the company's writers break new ground and push boundaries.
While artificial intelligence isn't necessarily a popular topic, especially among creatives, Naughty Dog's president said in an interview with Sony that the industry is “an exciting blend of cutting-edge technology and traditional storytelling.”
Neil Druckmann is known as the co-creator and director of the hugely popular game franchises “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us.” He joined the American first-party video game developer in 2004 after the studio was acquired by Sony in 2001.
When asked how he expects the intersection of storytelling and technology to evolve over the next decade, he responded: “This expansion of possibilities will be driven by the increasing accessibility of tools that allow even non-technical people to use their imaginations to create worlds and stories to their heart's content.”
“AI will revolutionize the way content is created, but it also raises some ethical questions that need to be addressed.”
Druckmann didn't elaborate on that issue in the interview, but did talk about how he's using technology to make his position in the industry easier: “While filming for The Last of Us Season 2 took place in Canada, I was able to oversee production from Los Angeles via phone and computer.”
How have technological advances changed industry practices?
Naughty Dog previously hand-animated Jak and Daxter, but has now moved to using motion capture for Uncharted, which the studio's president says enhances the storytelling “significantly.”
“I value mastering the fundamentals over the tools. With AI, your creativity is the limit. Understanding art history, composition, and storytelling are essential for effective direction. Tools evolve rapidly. Tools that were once essential are now outdated.
“AI expands creative possibilities by enabling us to create more nuanced dialogue and characters, but precise control over these tools is critical to achieving the intended results.”
Featured Image: Naughty Dog website
