Bethesda’s Todd Howard Comments on AI in Game Development

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Todd Howard, head of Bethesda Game Studios, sees AI as simply another tool for game development. He’s one of many developers and publishers currently discussing how AI might be used in the gaming industry.

Artificial intelligence in game development is a hotly debated topic. Some developers worry about potential job losses, while others believe AI offers helpful benefits. Players have also voiced strong opinions against its use in games.

Todd Howard Talks AI in Game Development

Bethesda’s Todd Howard recently discussed AI’s role in game development with Eurogamer, describing it as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for creative work. While emphasizing that artistic vision remains the priority, he explained that they’re exploring how AI can speed up repetitive tasks and improve their development process – things like quickly testing ideas or building game worlds. Howard stressed the importance of preserving the artistic quality of their games, highlighting that the ‘human touch’ is what truly makes Bethesda titles unique.

Although neither Howard nor Bethesda has officially stated it, artificial intelligence might be used in the creation of their upcoming games. Currently, the studio is focused on developing The Elder Scrolls 6, and Fallout 5 is planned for the future, but won’t likely begin full production until The Elder Scrolls 6 is finished. Given that The Elder Scrolls 6 isn’t expected to release until 2027 at the earliest – and possibly even later – it’s reasonable to assume that AI will be a much more common tool throughout the gaming industry by then.

The use of AI has sparked criticism from gamers. One Call of Duty player received a refund from Steam after noticing that the calling cards in Black Ops 7 seemed to be created with AI, and other Steam users are asking for clearer labels on AI-generated content. Similarly, Amazon’s Fallout TV series, executive produced by Todd Howard, faced backlash in 2023 when promotional material appeared to contain AI-generated elements with noticeable flaws, like nonsensical text and oddly shaped characters.

There’s a lot of debate about using AI in game development, even within the industry itself. Some EA developers were unhappy with being required to use AI tools, while a former developer from the God of War team supported it. Epic Games criticized Steam for labeling games that use AI, but Steam continues to do so. The team behind Baldur’s Gate, including actors and the publishing director, have all spoken out against AI. Dan Houser, a co-founder of Rockstar, believes AI can be helpful for certain tasks, but worries about its long-term viability, as it relies on information it creates itself. Other companies are actively testing or using AI – Capcom is experimenting with it, ARC Raiders used it in development, and Hasbro has admitted to using it for Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons content.

It’s still too early to say whether AI will become a lasting part of our lives, or if its drawbacks will eventually overshadow its advantages. While Bethesda seems to be exploring AI technology, they don’t appear to be planning to replace their artists with AI-generated content in future games.

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2025-12-06 03:41