A survey conducted at Devcom reveals varying perspectives on AI

Insights from a recent Devcom speaker survey indicate that opinion on AI use within the gaming industry is divided. While 33% of participants are inclined to minimize AI use, 32% support its integration into coding and production.

Only 11% favor AI's role in art and animation, and even fewer advocate for its use in marketing and communication. A mere 3% see AI as beneficial for narrative design.

The survey also highlighted concerns within the industry. Economic and political instability was identified as the primary issue by the majority (56 respondents), with market saturation (53 votes) and rising development costs (44 votes) also flagged as significant challenges.

Interestingly, 46% believe that major platform companies may pivot towards cloud and digital services soon. The survey further reveals a digital preference, with 59% of speakers buying games digitally, whereas 22% reserve physical purchases for exclusive collector's editions.

From August 17 to 19, Devcom will take place in Cologne, Germany, featuring over 350 speakers and in excess of 200 sessions.

A highlighted feature this year is a new roundtable stage, allowing for multiple simultaneous discussions, as noted by Robin Hartmann, senior PR and partnership manager. "Feedback has shown high appreciation for these roundtables, prompting a need for more," Hartmann explained.

Speakers are keen to engage in roundtables due to their interactive nature, which facilitates audience questions more effectively than traditional panels.

"Our expo stage captures the Gamescom atmosphere," says Hartmann. The main stage sessions, open to all expo floor attendees, will be filled with keynotes and additional content this year.

Hartmann expresses enthusiasm for a session featuring Minh Le, the creator of Counter-Strike, discussing the game's impact and challenges over the past quarter-century in the industry.

Moreover, a keynote from STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl's game director Ievgen Grygorovych and creative director Mariia Grygorovych will delve into the difficulties posed by the war in Ukraine.

The event will also showcase Michel Nohra, lead designer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Zeke Virant, designer of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Additionally, insights from Arrowhead Game Studios, Gearbox Montreal, and Avalanche Studios on development experiences will be shared.

David Fox, an early Lucasfilm Games employee, is set to discuss the development of 1985's Rescue on Fractalus!, which made pioneering use of fractals for real-time 3D rendering.

Newly announced sessions include a presentation titled 'Viva La Game Dev: How a YouTube Empire Became Indie Game Gold', featuring Viva La Dirt League creators, alongside a 'Mario Kart World: Beat the Pros' event, where attendees can compete against pro players to win tickets to next year's Devcom.

Further information is available on the Devcom website.