adminAI in game development is advancing quickly, but Infold Games says human creators will remain essential to making games distinctive. CTO Ji Zhang discussed AI, rising hardware costs and the technology behind Infinity Nikki and Love and Deepspace at GDC: Festival of Gaming in San Francisco.
Image credit: Infold Games
AI in game development cannot replace human creativity, says Infold CTO
Zhang acknowledged that AI tools are developing rapidly and are likely to influence the games industry. However, he believes they cannot provide the creative judgment and emotional character that core human creators bring to a project. In his view, AI may assist with parts of production, but it should not be treated as a substitute for the people shaping a game’s central ideas and content.
For studios evaluating AI tools, this distinction is practical: technology can support workflows, while creative direction and decisions about a game’s identity still depend on human teams. Zhang’s comments reflect Infold Games’ stated commitment to keeping creators at the centre of development.
Memory costs and the next generation of gaming hardware
Rising RAM prices were another concern discussed at the event. Higher component costs could affect the price of future gaming hardware, particularly as demand for more memory and stronger performance grows across PC, AAA and mobile games. The article also noted uncertainty around the cost of upcoming devices, including Valve’s paused Steam Machine rollout and Xbox’s announced high-spec console.
Zhang said Infold is not treating the current increase in memory costs as a permanent change. He compared demand for memory with the ongoing need for more capable CPUs and described the cost increase as temporary. For players considering a new device, the practical takeaway is to compare the hardware requirements of the games they play with a system’s specifications rather than assuming every new release will require an immediate upgrade.
How Infold develops Infinity Nikki and Love and Deepspace
Both games are free-to-play and receive regular content updates. Their development also involves creating new outfits with realistic fabric textures, but the teams use different technical approaches to meet each game’s needs.
Different engines and distinct technical priorities
Infold’s earlier game Shining Nikki made the transition from 2D to 3D in 2019. Zhang said the studio has focused on realistic clothing through physics-based materials and clothing simulation. In Love and Deepspace, the emphasis is on detailed character work, particularly facial expressions and fine adjustments. Infinity Nikki presented a different challenge: building an open world.
The games also use different commercial engines. Love and Deepspace was built with Unity, while Infinity Nikki uses Unreal Engine. Zhang explained that these engines provide the starting foundation, which Infold then supplements with in-house tools and optimisation work done in partnership with hardware companies.
Development pipelines improve through iteration
Zhang described optimisation as an ongoing process rather than something that can be perfected at the beginning of production. Teams identify time-consuming tasks and technical bottlenecks as they work, then make adjustments and refine their pipelines. This approach helps studios direct effort toward the areas where improvements can make the greatest difference.
Overall, Infold’s comments connect AI in game development with a broader production principle: tools and engines can support a project, but teams still need human creative direction, careful technical iteration and solutions suited to each game’s design.
