New data finds 94% of have utilised AI across the nine production stages of game production
97% of studio leaders have used AI in some form during development, with 94% having used AI in at least one of the nine production stages.
This data comes from a new AI adoption report by consultancy firm Vivrato, based on 101 interviews with studio leaders in Europe and North America conducted between April and September 2026.
The interviews addressed six types of AI: generative AI, rules-based automation, fine-tuned or custom-trained models, classical machine learning, retrieval-augmented systems, and agentic systems.
Vivrato clarified that a "studio's view of generative AI isn't treated as its view of AI overall."
Among the nine production stages, AI is most commonly used in code and engineering (engine, tools, gameplay code) at 86%, followed by general productivity tasks (such as documentation, email, meetings, and planning) at 83%, and concept and pre-production (ideation and brainstorming) at 79%.
Design and prototyping (mechanics, systems, features) use is 68%, while art, assets, and animation (characters, environments, motion capture) are at 60%.
More than half of studios use AI for QA and testing, as well as for narrative and world building. Analytics and player data, along with LiveOps and monetisation, have the lowest AI adoption rates.
Over half of respondents rate the integration of AI into the full production pipeline at three or lower out of ten.
5 out of 10 in North America.
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