Sony Outlines AI Expansion in Game Development

Sony Interactive Entertainment executives outlined plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence in game development and platform features during the company's latest quarterly financial results presentation.

Hideaki Nishino, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, described AI as a "powerful tool" to create more immersive gaming experiences, accelerate development cycles and improve efficiency for studios. He emphasized that the technology would lower barriers to entry for creators, leading to greater volume and diversity of content on PlayStation. Sony Group president and CEO Hiroki Totoki reinforced this approach, stating, "Human creativity must remain at the centre. AI is a powerful tool, but is not a replacement for artists or creators. It is an amplifier of human imagination and catalyst for new possibilities."

Nishino highlighted specific AI applications already in use by first-party studios, including Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio. One example is Mockingbird, a proprietary tool that generates 3D facial animations from performance capture data. "Importantly, we are not replacing human performers, but rather optimising how we process the data from...