Battlefield 6 is the latest entry in Electronic Arts’ long-running shooter series and is available now on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. Prior to launch, EA said players would not see any content created by generative AI in the game. Days earlier, the company announced a $50 billion leveraged buyout to take it private, with investors reportedly betting on increased use of artificial intelligence to cut costs.
Rebecka Coutaz, an EA executive who serves as deputy general manager at Criterion and Dice, two of the four studios involved in the development of Battlefield 6, told BBC Newsbeat that there will be no GenAI-created content in the final game.
Kutaz said generative AI is already being leveraged in the pipeline, giving developers “more time and space to be creative.”
However, the executive sees generative AI as a positive for the gaming medium. She said the technology is “very tempting,” but there’s currently no way to incorporate it into game development workflows.
“If we can break the spell with artificial intelligence, it will help us be more innovative and creative,” Kutaz said.
artificial intelligence in games
EA has taken a positive stance on artificial intelligence in the past and has expressed a willingness to explore the technology and its potential in media. While the technology has attracted investors for its potential cost-cutting benefits, the gaming industry in general has encountered resistance from creatives and consumers when it comes to generating artificial intelligence.
In late September, EA announced it was taking private in a $55 billion leveraged buyout deal involving a consortium of investors including private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.
According to a Financial Times report on the acquisition (paid), investors are betting that artificial intelligence can help EA slash operating costs and allow the group to manage the $20 billion in debt committed by JPMorgan Chase. People involved in the deal told the Financial Times that AI-based cost cutting will significantly boost EA’s profits in the coming years.
However, the use of generative AI has been a bone of contention among creatives and large studios. Earlier this year, video game voice actors, represented by the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, reached an agreement with video game studios focusing on artificial intelligence protections.
