On November 7, 2025, the gaming industry received a wake-up call that’s still echoing through development studios worldwide. Nexon’s CEO dropped a bombshell statement that should make every game developer pause and reconsider their approach to artificial intelligence.
“It’s important to assume every game company is using AI,” the executive declared following controversy around their upcoming shooter Arc Raiders. This wasn’t just corporate posturing—it was a candid admission that AI has become the gaming industry’s new normal, whether developers are ready to admit it or not.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Nexon’s CEO believes we should operate under the assumption that AI tools like Claude and Gemini are already integrated across the industry
- The statement came directly after the Arc Raiders AI voice actor controversy sparked widespread debate
- Not everyone agrees—some developers are pushing back hard against this assumption
- This changes how game studios need to approach ethics, transparency, and community trust
The New Reality of Game Development
When a major publisher like Nexon makes this kind of statement, it’s not just speculation—it’s based on what they’re seeing across the industry. According to GamesRadar’s coverage, the CEO specifically mentioned that developers should assume competitors are already leveraging AI tools.
This creates an interesting dilemma for studios. If everyone else is using AI, does staying completely AI-free put you at a competitive disadvantage? Or does it become your unique selling point?
The technical reality is that AI models like Claude and Gemini have reached a point where they can handle tasks that previously required human specialists. From generating dialogue trees to creating environmental textures, the efficiency gains are undeniable. But as we’re learning, efficiency comes with ethical questions that can’t be ignored.
The Developer Pushback You Haven’t Heard About
Not everyone in the gaming world is embracing this AI-everywhere future. In fact, some developers are pushing back with surprising intensity. The team behind Demonschool made their position crystal clear, stating they’d “rather cut off our own arms” than rely on AI tools.
As PC Gamer reported, these developers directly disputed Nexon’s CEO claim, creating a fascinating split in industry philosophy.
This isn’t just about different opinions—it represents a fundamental divide in how developers view their craft. Are games art that requires human touch, or are they products that benefit from technological optimization? The answer might determine what kinds of games we play in the coming years.
What This Means for Your Game Development Strategy
If you’re working in games today, the Nexon statement changes your strategic landscape. You can no longer treat AI as an optional consideration—it’s now a central factor in how you operate, communicate, and build trust with your community.
The Arc Raiders controversy taught us that players care deeply about how AI is implemented. When voice actors discovered their performances might be enhanced or replaced by AI, the backlash was immediate and intense. This isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about respecting creative labor and maintaining artistic integrity.
Here’s what smart developers are doing right now:
- Creating clear AI usage policies that team members understand and can communicate to players
- Being transparent about where and how AI enhances development without replacing human creativity
- Establishing ethical boundaries for what tasks they’re comfortable automating versus keeping human-driven
- Preparing for community questions about AI implementation before they become controversies
The most successful studios will be those that navigate this transition thoughtfully rather than reactively. They’ll use AI to enhance human creativity rather than replace it, and they’ll communicate their approach clearly to build trust.
The bottom line:
Nexon’s CEO did the gaming industry a favor by stating the quiet part out loud. AI isn’t coming—it’s already here, and pretending otherwise puts developers at a strategic disadvantage. But embracing AI doesn’t mean abandoning ethics or transparency.
The developers who thrive in this new landscape will be those who create clear AI strategies that balance efficiency with artistic integrity. They’ll use tools like Claude and Gemini to handle repetitive tasks while keeping human creativity at the center of their process. Most importantly, they’ll be honest with players about how AI enhances their games without replacing the human touch that makes gaming magical.
Your move, developers. The AI future is already here—how will you meet it?
If you’re interested in related developments, explore our articles on Why Google’s New Fair Image Dataset Changes Everything for AI Ethics and Why Game Developers Are Pushing Back Against Political Use of Their Creations.
