Gamescom Was Plagued By AI This Year

Published Aug 27, 2026, 6:34 AM EDT James Lucas is an Executive Editor at TheGamer who has worked in professional journalism since 2018. A Newcastle University graduate with a degree in Journalism, Media, and Culture, they have written hundreds of guides, news stories, and original reports, with bylines in IGN, NME, GaymingMag, and VG247, sourcing interviews with studio heads, legendary industry figures, prominent actors, and more. An expert on FPS games, Soulslikes, RPGs, and survival horror, James has intimate knowledge of a wide variety of titles, providing in-depth coverage and exclusive profiles. Some of the games they have extensively covered include: Half-Life 3, Counter-Strike, Elden Ring, and Fallout. They pride themselves on their consistently thorough research, leveraging nearly a decade of industry experience. You can reach them at James.t@thegamer.com Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 was a two-hour highlight reel of disappointment this year. There were occasional gems like Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons and Metro 2039 nestled between the endless dark fantasy soulslikes and anime-inspired action games, but the showstopping reveals were a remaster of a 10-year-old game and a remake of a 29-year-old game. That really says it all. But there was something else that was slightly off about the showcase. The whole thing had a veneer of AI to it. If you felt the same, you weren't hallucinating. Nearly one in four reveals (13 of the 55 games shown, or 23.64%) either used AI in development or marketing. To come to this conclusion, TheGamer poured through interviews with developers, official blogs, and Steam disclosures for each reveal, while also cross-referencing a similar list that was shared with r/SocialistGaming by Reddit user FrostyMagazine9918. We found that the following 13 games utilized AI in some form: 1666 Amsterdam — placeholder AI assets were used in-game and throughout marketing. Panache Digital assures these will be removed for launch. Aion 2 — several in-game assets were created with AI tools, including Arcana card designs and some icons, as per the Steam disclosure. Ananta — AI was used for NPC interactions. Aniimo — AI being used "in several ways," such as for testing. Though the team assures that creature designs are entirely human-made. Crazy Taxi: World Tour — generative AI support tools used during development "as a reference." Crimson Desert: Enhanced Edition — AI was used for placeholder assets, though some of these slipped through to launch. Like or Die — generative AI utilized "for auxiliary purposes in the production of some assets." Once Human — utilizes AI-generated assets for marketing. Petit Planet — features an AI chatbot. HoYoverse has also invested $14.6 billion into AI as a central pillar for game development. PUBG Ded.Net — Steam disclosure reveals that the team "uses AI tools to help develop some in-game content." The Blood of the Dawnwalker — placeholder generative AI voices. Rebel Wolves assures that everything will be removed and replaced with actors ahead of launch. Train Sim World 7 — utilizes ElevenLabs' text-to-speech tool to generate voice-over elements, such as platform and onboard announcements. Zoopunk — players can use AI for in-game customization. 23.64% Is Undoubtedly A Generous Figure Sega These are just the games that admit to using AI. There are no doubt many more that belong on this list. For instance, Capcom has vowed to "actively" use AI in development, while Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch is a staunch advocate for AI, with the recently announced Rideshare 'Stimulator' featuring everything from AI-generated voices and missions to localized dialogue and music. Monster Hunter Outlanders and Turok Origins very likely used AI at some point in development considering the studios' interest. There were also other HoYoverse titles featured throughout ONL, like Nodus Falls, where AI use may not yet be publicly disclosed. AI was merely used for placeholder assets in many cases, but this has proven just as controversial among players. Putting aside the ethical considerations, a placeholder isn't created in a vacuum. It's there to communicate an artistic direction to the people building the final product. Indeed, this is why Larian Studios found itself under intense scrutiny last year after admitting to using AI in the early stages of Divinity's development. How AI Was Used For Each Game Category Games Count Generative assets/content 1666 Amsterdam, Aion 2, Crimson Desert, Like or Die, Once Human, PUBG Ded.Net, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, Zoopunk 8 AI-generated audio The Blood of the Dawnwalker, Train Sim World 7 2 NPC interactions Ananta, Petit Planet 2 23.64% will inevitably be lower than the actual figure. A recent BCG study found that 20% of new games disclosed the use of AI in Q3 2025, when in reality, an estimated 50% of studios now use AI in development. It'll be fascinating to revisit the complete list of 55 games in a year's time and see just how many actually used generative tools, because one in four is very likely a generous estimate. Considering Geoff Keighley's comment about skyrocketing computing prices at the start of the showcase, the fact that it featured so many games that utilize AI is a nice bit of irony to cap off a disappointing year for ONL. Location Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany Dates August 21-25, 2024