Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu says the company will be “aggressive” in using generative AI technology to create content, including in development and publishing. This not only means more investment in technologies but also a desire to use the tech for all kinds of development, and “create new forms of content” in a balance between product and marketing.
Kiryu shared those comments in a New Year’s letter reflecting on 2023 and looking ahead to what’s ahead for the company this year. In the letter, he paints 2023 as a transition year after previous pandemic restrictions, and sets to redefine some of the company’s goals. Square Enix is looking to diversify its income sources and adopt technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality (the XR, extended reality field) into new content as platforms became more widespread and accessible to more households.
As for the use of generative AI, this is where it gets a bit more controversial. As developers begin to embrace these technologies more, it isn’t without concern that their use is displacing human creative and development talent. The Finals, for example, released by Nexon, infamously used AI-generated voice overs instead of hiring voice actors to deliver all the lines. Recently, Microsoft signed a deal with Inworld to develop and use generative AI technology in development, including to generate quests, dialogue, and story content. Square Enix’ direction is not surprising, though concerns remain in the industry overall, especially after a year of thousands of layoffs.
Square Enix has already embraced the use of blockchain and other tech in an effort to broaden its portfolio. Indeed, he states that, “We previously identified three focus investment fields, namely blockchain entertainment/Web 3.0, AI, and the cloud” and will realign to allocate resources into them.
Kiryu says that the company is looking for growth and to “adapt flexibly to a changing business environment and to continue to create high-quality content” through these and other moves. Expect their use of blockchain and generative AI technology to continue to be a focus.
