Neil Druckmann says AI will ‘push the boundaries of storytelling’

The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann says he thinks AI technology will “revolutionise” the way content is created, its issues aside.

Druckmann was interviewed on the Sony website as part of its ‘Creative Entertainment Vision’ presentation, which it describes as its long-term vision for where it “wants to be in 10 years, with an eye towards future technological advances”.

Asked how he envisions the fusion of storytelling and technology over the next 10 years, Druckmann said he thinks it’s getting easier for people with no technical ability to fully realise the ideas in their head.

“We’re seeing this exciting marriage of cutting-edge technology with traditional storytelling that’s pushing us into a future where enhanced fidelity isn’t just about achieving realism, but about broadening the spectrum from highly stylised visuals to ultra-realistic ones,” he said.

“This broadening of possibilities is fueled by increasingly accessible tools that allow even non-technical people to use their imagination and create worlds and narratives to their heart’s content.”

Druckmann then specifically cited AI as an example of this, stating that while it has its problems which have to be resolved, the technology itself can be used to expand what is capable in game development.

“AI is really going to revolutionise how content is being created, although it does bring up some ethical issues we need to address,” he explained.

“With technologies like AI and the ability to do motion capture right from home, we’re reducing both costs and technical hurdles, opening the door for us to take on more adventurous projects and push the boundaries of storytelling in games.

“This evolution is truly empowering creators to bring their visions to life without the traditional obstacles.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Druckmann said Naughty Dog’s next title could “redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming”.

Last year, he suggested the studio would reveal its next game game closer to its release than has previously been the case, in a bid to combat “work-life balance issues” that arose from announcing what it was working on too soon.