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Sohei Niikawa, the creator of Disgaea and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, has publicly clarified his stance on generative artificial intelligence in game development. While he acknowledges the technology as a potential tool for productivity, he maintains no interest in utilizing it to write characters, plots, or stories.
Niikawa distinguishes between administrative support and creative authorship. He is open to using AI for tasks like searching for information or suggesting character names and titles. However, he refuses to let the software generate complete narratives or commercial plot lists, as he finds no personal satisfaction in a process where he does not choose every word himself.
Regarding the future of the industry, Niikawa advises young developers to prioritize creating experiences that connect emotionally with players. He emphasizes that the ability to critically judge AI-generated proposals remains a vital skill for human creators in an evolving technological landscape.
The developer is currently preparing for the release of his new tactical RPG, Demons' Night Fever. The title is scheduled to launch on October 22 for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC, featuring a combat system that allows players to sacrifice allies for tactical advantages.
