In today's gaming landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly prominent feature. But how do gamers really feel about Gen AI being used in their favorite video games? A recent survey sheds light on gamer attitudes towards Gen AI and reveals some surprising trends.
The Lowdown on the Survey
The Gamer Motivation Profile is a 5-minute survey that provides personalized insights into gamers' motivations, allowing them to compare themselves with other gamers. With over 1.75 million participants worldwide, this survey offers a comprehensive look at gamer attitudes towards Gen AI. In our optional survey, we asked additional questions about attitudes towards Gen AI in video games.
A Negative Outlook?
The results are clear: the majority of gamers have a negative attitude towards Gen AI in video games. A whopping 85% of respondents have a below-neutral attitude, with an astonishing 63% selecting the most negative response option. This level of negativity is rare in our survey research among gamers and highlights a significant shift in attitudes towards Gen AI.
Gender and Age: Shaping Opinions
We found that women and non-binary gamers are more negative towards Gen AI than their male counterparts, with a 25-30% higher likelihood of selecting the "Very Negative" option. On the other hand, older gamers (45+) are more favorable towards Gen AI, while younger gamers (13-17) are the most negative.
Gaming Motivations: A Key Factor
Our survey also explored the correlation between gaming motivations and attitudes towards Gen AI. We discovered that Power has a positive correlation with attitude towards Gen AI, indicating that gamers who care about power progression are more likely to be supportive of Gen AI. Conversely, Story and Design have negative correlations, suggesting that gamers who prioritize storytelling and customization are more opposed to Gen AI.
The Specific Use Matters
The way Gen AI is used in games also plays a significant role in shaping gamer attitudes. Gamers were most negative towards Gen AI being used for artistic/creative purposes, such as artwork, music/sound effects, and narrative/dialogue. However, they were more open to using Gen AI for dynamic difficulty adjustment.
A Shift Over Time?
Comparing our current survey results with a similar survey conducted in 2024 reveals that attitudes towards Gen AI have worsened over the past year among gamers. The negative sentiment towards Gen AI has increased significantly, indicating a growing unease among gamers.
Room for Improvement
While there is a strong negative sentiment towards Gen AI, there may be opportunities to use it in more palatable ways in video games. For instance, using AI to generate tailored guides and tutorials based on a player's existing knowledge could be a more acceptable application of Gen AI.
What do you think? Have your attitudes towards Gen AI worsened or improved over time? Are there any uses of Gen AI that you would be favorable toward? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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