adminAI in game development is expected to influence how studios organise teams and produce games, according to Gamescom Dev’s annual speaker survey. Among the 100 speakers surveyed, 83% said they expect AI to affect team structure or productivity. The results capture industry expectations rather than measured outcomes, offering a snapshot of the questions developers are weighing as they plan ahead.
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AI in game development tops expected industry trends
Nearly half of respondents named AI-assisted development as the industry’s most significant trend over the next three years. Other responses included hardware and RAM prices (28%), the creator economy (7%) and user-generated content (5%).
Views on how much AI should be used remain varied. Thirty percent prefer minimal AI involvement in development, down from 33% in the previous year’s survey. Meanwhile, 34% believe code and production are the areas that would benefit most from AI assistance.
For teams considering where to explore AI tools, these responses point to a practical distinction: interest in assistance does not necessarily mean support for using AI throughout every part of development. Studios can assess tools against specific tasks and workflows rather than assuming a single approach suits every team.
What respondents expect AI to mean for game jobs
Survey participants offered different views on AI’s effect on employment. Thirty-six percent expect roles to change rather than team sizes to shrink, while 33% anticipate smaller teams. Another 14% expect higher output from individual workers, and 17% do not expect workforce reductions.
The figures reflect expectations, not confirmed job outcomes. For developers and studio leaders, they highlight the value of discussing how responsibilities may evolve alongside any productivity changes. Clear communication about the purpose of new tools can help teams distinguish workflow improvements from decisions about staffing.
Economic uncertainty and discoverability remain major concerns
More than half of respondents identified economic uncertainty as the industry’s biggest challenge. Other concerns were market saturation (38%), discoverability (35%) and rising development costs (30%). These issues can shape planning decisions, from budgeting to how a game reaches its intended audience.
When asked how discoverability could improve, respondents pointed to greater transparency in platform algorithms (32%), better storefront recommendations (22%) and more curated editorial coverage (21%). For players and developers alike, clearer routes to relevant games could make it easier to connect audiences with titles they may want to explore.
Smaller teams and business models on the horizon
Looking ahead, 37% of respondents viewed smaller development teams as the greatest opportunity. Community building and new publishing models followed, each at 15%. These responses suggest that participants see potential not only in production methods, but also in how studios build relationships with players and bring games to market.
There was no single expected winner among business and monetisation models for the next three years. Digital and physical premium games led the responses at 29%, followed by live service at 24% and free-to-play games with in-game items at 21%.
What the Gamescom Dev survey suggests
The survey presents AI in game development as a prominent expected trend, while showing that opinions differ on its effects on roles, team size and output. Economic uncertainty, discoverability and development costs also remain significant concerns. Because the results represent the views of 100 speakers, they are best read as an industry snapshot—not a guarantee of what will happen across every studio.
