Industry
Generative AI: 85.8 percent of game developers use it
CESA is measuring generative AI use in Japan's games sector for the first time; 63.0 percent of respondents use it daily at work.
85.8 percent of the game developers surveyed by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) use generative AI at work. This is shown by the preview of the "CESA Game Industry Report 2026", published on September 17, 2026. 63.0 percent of respondents say they use the technology daily; including occasional use, the share rises to 85.8 percent.
Productivity is the main focus for companies
In 2026, CESA carried out two separate surveys on the use of generative AI for the first time: one among game developers and one among the association's member companies. Among companies, the expected benefit ranked first is higher efficiency and productivity. According to Denfaminicogamer, shorter development times followed, as well as lower development and operating costs.
At the same time, the responses show that use does not happen without control mechanisms. The surveyed companies most often mention human review, correction or supervision. Rules on which tools may be used, as well as the rule not to adopt AI output unchanged, are also widespread.
CESA managing director Tsutomu Masuda sees the figures as evidence that generative AI is now being used widely and steadily in game development. At the same time, he points to open questions surrounding copyright and other rights. For the industry, the task is therefore to combine new technical possibilities with the protection of these rights and with game development that remains human-centered.
The results add to the current debate about concrete AI use in Japanese productions. LEVEL-5 recently ruled out the direct use of generative AI in its actual games and announced corrections to presentation videos. The topic has also reached anime-adjacent productions: "Seishun no Yarinaoshi wa Isekai de" uses generative AI for individual shots, which are then edited editorially.
A preview of the report is being distributed to media representatives at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The complete edition is scheduled to appear in early December 2026.