Electronic Arts (EA) has long incorporated artificial intelligence into its game development processes. While Battlefield 6 itself does not feature content created by generative AI, DICE General Manager Rebecka Coutaz describes the technology as “very seducing.”
Coutaz explained to BBC Newsbeat that EA`s development teams utilize generative AI during the early stages of a project. This approach is intended to free up developers, allowing them more time and space for creative endeavors. She expressed optimism about AI`s overarching potential, stating, “If we can break the magic with AI, it will help us be more innovative and more creative.”
Fasahat `Fas` Salim, another developer on Battlefield 6, echoed this sentiment, assuring that generative AI is “not anything to be scared of” within the video game industry. He noted that teams are actively working to determine the most effective ways to integrate the technology into future development pipelines, aiming to “leverage that to take our games to the next level.”
This enthusiasm from EA developers aligns with statements from the company`s senior executives, including CEO Andrew Wilson, who anticipate that AI tools will yield long-term benefits for EA. Wilson has previously suggested that while the wider adoption of AI technologies might initially lead to job reductions, it will ultimately foster the creation of more jobs than it displaces over time.
Examples of AI`s current impact within the industry are varied. EA Sports credited machine learning and AI for the enhanced quality of CFB 25. Similarly, Sony has employed AI tools in game development for years, citing machine-learning systems as instrumental in accelerating the production of Marvel`s Spider-Man 2.
However, the narrative isn`t universally positive. Former Candy Crush developers, laid off by Activision Blizzard, reported that AI tools they helped create were subsequently used to replace them. Furthermore, a recent report indicated that EA might deepen its reliance on AI systems to expedite development, potentially influenced by its ongoing private sale to an investor consortium.
Battlefield 6 is set to launch on October 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game arrives with considerable anticipation, preceding the release of its rival, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which is slated for November.