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Epic pulls controversial Peacemaker dance emote from Fortnite following big twist in the TV show's latest episode
Game Updates

Epic confirms “no creative intentions” connecting controversial Fortnite emote with Peacemaker TV show

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Epic is modifying a Peacemaker emote that was removed from Fortnite earlier this week due to its inclusion of controversial dance moves.

The removal came after the TV show’s most recent episode included a major twist. While the emote was added earlier in September, in retrospect the dance moves clearly imitate a swastika.

What made this more remarkable is that Warner Bros. and Epic agreed on the collaboration before the episode aired, but the Fortnite-maker seemingly wasn’t forewarned of the show’s twist.

KPop Demon Hunters Takes Over FortniteWatch on YouTube

In a new statement on social media, Epic has confirmed there were “no creative intentions” in linking the Peaceful Hips Emote to the storyline of the show.

However, it’s modifying the dance in next week’s update, though players are able to get a refund if preferred.

The statement in full reads: “We’ve worked closely with our partners at Warner Bros. Games to confirm there were no creative intentions to connect the Peaceful Hips Emote and the current Peacemaker storyline. To avoid any confusion, we’re modifying the Emote choreography in next week’s update. If they prefer, players can return the Emote without using a ticket.”

We’ve worked closely with our partners at Warner Bros. Games to confirm there were no creative intentions to connect the Peaceful Hips Emote and the current Peacemaker storyline. To avoid any confusion, we’re modifying the Emote choreography in next week’s update. If they prefer,…

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) October 1, 2025

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Presumably, then, this won’t impact future collaborations between the two companies.

Yesterday, Epic announced its latest collaboration is with the popular Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters, with game modes and character skins included. Sounds golden!





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Roblox continues efforts for child safety by expanding age estimation to all users by end of the year
Game Updates

Roblox’s new ‘sensitive issues’ label deemed “a step backward for both creative expression and social justice” by advocacy groups

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Roblox has been criticised for its new guidelines on “sensitive issues”, described by advocacy groups as “a step backward for both creative expression and social justice”.

Back in August, Roblox introduced a new content descriptor for sensitive issues as part of an improvement to parental control. The descriptor is meant for Roblox experiences themed on social, political, or religious issues, but the company stated it is “not meant to take a stance on any specific issue”.

That has now been opposed in an open letter to Roblox by advocacy groups Women In Games, Out Making Games, and BAME in Games, each focused on supporting marginalised groups.

“Roblox’s recently proposed creator guidelines regarding ‘sensitive issues’ represent a step backward for both creative expression and social justice,” the open letter reads. “These changes threaten to undermine the vibrant, inclusive creative community that has flourished on the platform since 2006, while potentially causing real harm to marginalised groups in society.”

Essentially, the letter argues, by introducing these descriptors Roblox is treating issues of equality and human rights as “debatable rather than fundamental”.

Roblox’s criteria for the descriptor applies to “experiences where a majority of the content, gameplay, or experience details…refers to the sensitive issue”, which can include immigration, capital punishment, gun control, marriage equality, pay equity in sports, racial profiling, reproductive rights, and more.

“We support efforts to keep children safe online – especially girls, who face disproportionate harassment and grooming,” the open letter continues. “But safety cannot be achieved by silencing content that educates and empowers.

“Issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, and gender equality are central to girls’ and women’s lived experiences. Marking these as ‘sensitive’ risks hiding content that is vital to representation, education, and inspiration.”

Suppressing such experiences, the advocacy groups claim, is “false neutrality” and instead of protecting children, “the policy risks teaching Roblox’s diverse audience that issues of justice and equality are controversial opinions rather than universal values, thereby reinforcing the very divisions it claims to guard against.”

Instead, the groups believe Roblox should rely on internationally recognised age-rating systems like PEGI and the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), instead of “invent[ing] a vague, easily abused ‘sensitive issues’ label”.

Eurogamer has contacted Roblox for its response to the open letter.

Back in July, Roblox also introduced new safety features, including an AI used to estimate a user’s age through video selfie. Earlier this month, it announced this would be expanded to all users by the end of the year.



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Underground Jonesy angry in Fortnite
Esports

Fortnite removes controversial Peacemaker emote while investigating “creative intentions”

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Epic Games has removed the Peacemaker Season 2 Peaceful Hips emote from Fortnite following controversy around its design.

Peacemaker, the DC series starring John Cena, first aired in 2022 with its over-the-top dance intro quickly becoming a signature part of the show. The sequence changes slightly across episodes and has been described by director James Gunn as a deliberate storytelling device that hints at characters and themes, with Season 1 even foreshadowing its villain through butterfly-like movements.

We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 28, 2025

The collaboration between Peacemaker and Fortnite introduced cosmetics inspired by the series, including the Peaceful Hips emote. The dance was based on the Season 2 intro, where Cena waves his arms in exaggerated motions. However, some fans noticed that the arm shapes resembled half a swastika, which they speculated was another example of the show teasing its antagonist through choreography.

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Fortnite emote removed while under investigation

On September 28, the official Fortnite Status account confirmed the emote’s removal. “We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote,” the statement read. “Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.”

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PEACEMAKER DANCE IS DISABLED FROM FORTNITE

“We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.” pic.twitter.com/sdC3aAlmx0

— HYPEX (@HYPEX) September 28, 2025

While it has not been confirmed whether the swastika-like design was intentional or a coincidence, Epic is investigating the matter. Given that the show’s previous season used similar dance cues to foreshadow its villain, many fans believe the gesture was deliberate. If that’s the case, the emote is unlikely to ever return to Fortnite, with refunds already set to be processed for players who purchased it.

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If that’s the case, then Peacemaker’s emote will join the likes of Rue and the Washington “Redskins” outfits, which have been removed from Fortnite for being potentially offensive to others.





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The Creative Chat Wireless headset during our review
Product Reviews

Creative Chat Wireless business headset review

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The Chat Wireless from Creative is a lightweight Bluetooth headset designed for business use. It doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel, but instead deliver exceptional comfort and crystal-clear audio at what I’d consider to be a very fair price.

As a chap who lives inside his headphones – for everything from conference calls to music playback and gaming sessions – I was keen to see how well they performed.

Spoiler alert: they’re definitely worth a look if you’re a professional. Yes, I have issues with the buttons, but the design, price, and overall quality of the audio and noise-canceling mic are excellent.

  • Creative Chat Wireless at Amazon for $69.99

Creative Chat Wireless: Price & availability

The Creative Chat Wireless headset is currently priced at $70 from Creative’s official US site – while in the UK, it’s retailing for £50 via Creative.

I’m also seeing it available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for the same price.

Compared to alternatives, it’s priced pretty much at the low- to mid-range – it’s certainly not as pricey as offerings like the Jabra Evolve 2 65 Flex I’ve reviewed, which far surpasses the $150 mark.

Creative Chat Wireless: Design & features

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

The design of the Chat Wireless headset is par for the course and in line with what I’d expect from a unit at this price. Inside the box, there’s the headset itself, a USB cable, the USB dongle, and a quick start manual.

In hand, the headset is impressively lightweight with plenty of give to fit a range of head sizes. The band is made of a firm plastic, neatly rounded on one side, which I think gives it an attractive, premium style compared to bland, budget headsets. Encompassing the top is padding for a more comfortable fit. As an accent, there’s bronze-colored metal connecting it to the pads.

I found the earcups well-cushioned, with a foam interior covered with a synthetic material. They fit nicely over the ear, but don’t envelope them in the way casual consumer headphones do. These also swivel inward for easier storage – although they aren’t foldable and don’t come with a case.

On the left earcup is a USB-C port for charging and separate volume up and down buttons. I particularly like how they’re positioned on either side of the band, so I wasn’t blindly fumbling for the correct one.

It’s also home to the stowable microphone, which rotates both ways and features a physical mute button. At the base of the mic is a Call button, used to turn the unit on and off or entering Bluetooth pairing mode.

All in all, the headset boasts a simple and efficient design with all the core features you’d expect.

Creative Chat Wireless: Performance

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Chat Wireless is light, tipping the scales at 0.3lb / 137g when I weighed them. It’s the sort of headset you can easily wear all day (and I did) without discomfort. If you’re taking a lot of calls, they’re pitch-perfect in this regard.

When wearing the headset, it’s surprisingly firm on the ears – and while there’s no noise-cancelling on the earcups, the snug fit did prevent extraneous background noise filtering in.

I found audio quality to be excellent, with just the right amount of bass and treble, while voices had the correct timbre. I used these for video calls using both Bluetooth and the USB dongle, as well as hooking up via Bluetooth to my phone to listen to music and podcasts, and a Nintendo Switch 2 while playing games. Each time, I experienced no tinniness here, which I sometimes find from cheaper devices.

Microphone quality came out incredibly clear. There is noise-canceling on the mic and in my own tests, this worked well. Which is useful, as I have an especially vocal cat that likes to make its presence known during calls. I experienced absolutely no issues throughout my use, and yes, the mute button on mic works instantly and well (a perennial fear of mine). A discrete voice will whisper in your ear to let you know when it’s muted or unmuted, and the LED simultaneously switches from blue (unmute) to white (mute), too.

All button presses feel soft and pleasant – neither too clicky nor too mushy, but somewhere in between. However, I did find when attempting to adjust the volume, I had to be quite firm in order for it to register. Light taps just won’t work here.

This wasn’t the case with the Call button, which was immediately responsive when answering calls and hanging up. Other features like holding the volume buttons to skip tracks during playback or tapping the Call button to play or pause worked well.

Where I did run into problems, though, was when hitting this button multiple times to activate the various functions, like redial or opening my AI assistant. It took some time to figure out the appropriate amount of time between each click. It needs to be neither rapid nor too drawn out. Experimentation is recommended.

But where it really counts – audio and mic quality – I was highly impressed, and confident I was being heard. Never once did I have to ask “Can everyone hear me?” or “Is this thing on?”

Creative Chat Wireless: Final verdict

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

Whenever I’m reviewing a device like this, I ask myself: Would I buy this with my own hard-earned cash? And, considering the cost and the overall audio experience, this one is a resounding yes. It’s impressively lightweight, and ideal for professionals in an office or home office setting.

I do have some issues with the buttons, which could be more responsive – but to some degree that might be user error on my part – and some may wish for extra features like a foldable design or a storage case. And if you prefer a wired connection, these aren’t the ones for you, as they’re wireless-only.

But for a low- to mid-range wireless unit that makes meetings more bearable, especially if you’re using them all day, they’re one of the best Bluetooth headsets I’ve used.

Should I buy the Creative Chat Wireless?

Buy it if…

✅ You wear a headset all day: The Chat Wireless is pleasantly lightweight for all-day use, and the earpads feel snug over the ear without pressing against them too hard. I found them to be very comfortable, even after wearing them for hours at a time.

✅ You want a well-priced headset with all the core features: It’s not overloaded with unnecessary features or expensive technology, but audio quality is great and the buttons deliver a multitude of additional functions for navigating calls and playback.

Don’t buy it if…

❌ You need wired and wireless connection: As the name suggests, this headset is wireless only using Bluetooth 5.4 or the USB dongle. Creative does sell the Chat USB, which has a slightly thicker design but near-identical price with – you guessed it – a wired USB connection.

❌ You want noise-canceling audio: While the mic does have noise cancelation, the earcups don’t have this feature. I didn’t find this to be an issue even in somewhat active rooms, but it may be a deal-breaker for those in noisy workspaces.

For more top picks, we’ve reviewed the best headsets for conference calls.

Creative Chat Wireless: Price Comparison



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Fortnite creators will soon be able to sell in-game items to make more money, but are Creative Mode offerings like Steal A Brainrot what players want?
Game Reviews

Fortnite creators will soon be able to sell in-game items to make more money, but are Creative Mode offerings like Steal A Brainrot what players want?

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Epic will soon allow Fortnite developers to sell in-game items from their Fortnite islands, allowing creators to make more money.

This will begin in December 2025, and for the first year developers will earn 100 percent of the V-Bucks value from sales – usually this is at 50 percent.

The news comes as Fortnite’s Creative Mode of fan-made content is proving exceptionally popular – recently, the Fortnite version of Roblox meme game Steal A Brainrot had more concurrent players than Epic’s official maps.

The Power of Megazord | Fortnite Battle Royale Gameplay TrailerWatch on YouTube

Fortnite’s Creative Mode first launched back in 2018, and allows players to create their own maps and modes. Epic then offers a payout based on engagement – last year it paid out $325m to creators, with seven receiving over $10m.

Since Creative Mode’s release, Epic has revealed, players have spent over 11.2bn hours across 260,000 creator-made islands, resulting in $722,000,000 paid to creators.

The amount of money creators will make in Fortnite is only going to increase when they’re able to sell in-game items directly from their islands, in addition to receiving an engagement payout from Fortnite’s item shop sales.

Epic has a formula for calculating the V-Bucks value in US dollars each month, which takes all real-money spending towards V-Bucks (in dollars), subtracting platform and store fees, and dividing by total V-Bucks spent. With creators usually earning 50 percent of V-Bucks value from sales, this equates to 37 percent of retail spending. Roblox offers 25 percent, by way of comparison.

In addition, Epic will add a Sponsored Row to Fortnite’s Discover, meaning creators can pay for increased visibility by bidding for placement in the row. That’s a further investment in generating more in-game sales.

Epic has also announced Fortnite Creator Communities, to allow creators to share updates directly with players on the web and within Fortnite. Creator posts will be text and image-based and allow for sharing information and gathering feedback – much like on Steam.

Image credit: Epic

But despite the huge success of creator islands, is this really what Fortnite players want?

Take Steal A Brainrot. It’s proven to be a phenomenal success – as Dexerto reported, it had 24 million players in a single day across both Roblox and Fortnite versions. While the Roblox version peaked at 23.4 million players in a day, Fortnite’s version contributed 542,000. That vastly outweighs Fortnite’s primary Battle Royale modes that generate around 100,000 players during peak weekend play.

“They are promoting AI slop, copy and paste creative maps more than their own BR season,” wrote one player on reddit. “This is going to prove to be extremely unhealthy for the game in general I believe, and with the already low player counts this season Epic needs to do something to steer back to the basics, this metaverse stuff has RUINED Fortnite. This game has become a corporate shell of what it once was and I believe the remainder of this year will very much so make or break Fortnite as a whole.”

“Stuff like this cluttering the overview makes me disinterested in random creative maps. Those who put genuine effort into their maps often get hardly any attention,” wrote a user on a separate reddit post. Others point to the casual nature of user-made maps, as well as the high XP offered, as reasons for players to flock over.

Still, this new update for Fortnite creators is further shifting the game away from its Battle Royale roots into a Roblox-rivalling metaverse.



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Silksong's surprise release was "a little callous", says Hell is Us creative director
Game Reviews

Silksong’s surprise release was “a little callous”, says Hell is Us creative director

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Hell is Us creative director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête called the surprise release of Hollow Knight: Silksong “a little callous”, believing it had an impact on his game’s sales.


Rogue Factor’s adventure game was already locked in for its release ahead of Team Cherry’s announcement, but the two games eventually released on the same day.


“When you know you’re that big, I think a shadow drop is a bit like – wow,” said Jacques-Belletête on Skill Up’s Friends Per Second podcast. “As the ‘GTA 6 of indie’… to shadow drop something like this is a little callous.”

Hell is Us Review: Death Stranding meets… ZELDA?Watch on YouTube


After Team Cherry’s announcement, the Hell is Us development team discussed with publisher Nacon whether to change the date. “It was a real thing,” said Jacques-Belletête.


However, the “real pain in the ass”, Jacques-Belletête explained, is that changing release date means refunding pre-orders. And while that wasn’t a deciding factor, the team believed they could weather the storm.


Still, Jacques-Belletête admitted Silksong’s release did impact the launch of Hell is Us. “I don’t have any specific numbers,”he said, “at least not at this time. But for sure it did.”


Above all, Jacques-Belletête highlighted the difficulties of finding an appropriate release window in the current climate.


“That’s the thing nowadays, honestly – getting a window where you’re pretty much alone is almost impossible,” he said. “15 years ago, the mid-end of the summer was always a dead period. But there’s no such thing anymore. It’s just constant madness.”

Plenty of games did change their release date in the wake of Silksong’s launch, including Demonschool and Baby Steps.


“Hell is Us is an absorbing, nightmarish meditation on the horror of war, but divisive design choices prove tedious,” reads our Hell is Us review.

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

Love Eurogamer? Make us a Preferred Source on Google and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.



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Creative Stage Pro on TV stand
Product Reviews

Creative Stage Pro review: an affordable soundbar that’s equally at home on a TV stand or desktop

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Creative Stage Pro 2.1: Two-minute review

If you’re looking for a very affordable soundbar with a subwoofer, the Creative Stage Pro 2.1 should be on your radar. There are cheaper options available, but most are just a standalone soundbar. And the ones that do come with a sub are most likely from a brand that even a product reviewer like me wouldn’t recognize when browsing the endless options on Amazon.

If most of the best soundbars prioritize performance, features, or price point, then the price point is most important here. The performance of the Creative Stage Pro 2.1 soundbar is fine for a budget-friendly model and a definite improvement on the built-in audio of most flat-screen TVs. The feature set is also somewhat limited, though it does have a trick or two up its sleeve.

Overall, this soundbar is for someone who wants to upgrade their TV (or computer) audio without spending much money, since most soundbars with a subwoofer are going to cost more.

The Stage Pro’s alphanumeric LED display is a rare feature in a budget soundbar (Image credit: Future)

The Creative Stage Pro is not quite petite, but it’s relatively compact at just under 22 inches wide. Its front is rounded and slightly pointed up due to the way it sits on its two attached feet. There’s an LED display that reads out information like volume/settings and source – a feature I appreciate that is strangely missing from many soundbars, including pricey ones.

  • Creative Stage Pro 2.1 soundbar (Black) at Amazon for $169.99

The button layout on the soundbar’s top is pretty straightforward, with a power, volume level, input, Bluetooth, and SuperWide (more on that feature in a bit) buttons. All the basics are there, though you have to use the remote to get more granular in the controls, mainly by adding independent adjustments for the bass and treble, along with the sound mode selector.

The port selection might not wow, but it’s actually fairly robust for such a compact soundbar, with an HDMI ARC input with CEC Control (which lets you use one remote to control both the TV and soundbar), as well as optical digital, AUX, and USB-C inputs. It’s also worth noting that there’s Bluetooth 5.3 wireless support for streaming music.

At just under five inches deep, the subwoofer is also fairly compact, even if it stands a bit tall at 16.5 inches. The sub’s power cord is permanently attached, so if something happens to it, you’ll have to replace the whole subwoofer.

All sound adjustments to the Stage Pro can be made from the included remote (Image credit: Future)

Before I discuss performance, it’s worth noting that there’s a lot of power on tap with the Creative Stage Pro 2.1, which has two 20W channels for the soundbar and 40 watts for the sub, with a peak of 160 watts. This guy will give you more than enough volume, and I actually listened to it at a fairly low volume level setting most of the time.

There’s plenty of low end, though the bass doesn’t quite get that deep. After spending time watching blockbusters like The Batman where everything is always blowing up, it was clear that this system doesn’t deliver a lot of sub-bass – not too surprising when the subwoofer driver is a relatively small 5.25 inches.

As far as the mids go, they’re a bit boosted, and I wish I could back off a bit with EQ settings (something one would find on more expensive soundbars) for a flatter response. Ultimately, I ended up preferring to turn up the treble and bass a little bit and turn down the volume. The high frequencies on cheaper speakers and soundbars typically sound either tinny or muted, but luckily, the Creative Stage Pro has a decent amount of treble detail.

Considering the Creative Stage Pro is relatively compact, the soundstage is pretty narrow. I didn’t hear much in the way of sound effects positioning, whether in the aforementioned The Batman or other media, including some audio test tracks on YouTube.

As is expected at its price point, the Creative Stage Pro’s feature set is pretty minimal. There’s no Wi-Fi streaming or voice assistant support, though there is Bluetooth for wireless streaming.

What the soundbar does have for features is its various sound presets and Creative’s SuperWide Technology. The five presets are the usual variety: Movies, Music, Vocals, and Gaming. I found them to be a bit too subtle to be all that noticeable, though when I selected the Off option, there was a bit of a volume drop.

Of the presets, I wish Vocal – a mode that usually helps with boosting dialogue – was more distinguished, but it’s too small a boost to really help. I also wish there were a Night preset similar to that found on other soundbars that would limit volume peaks and boost quiet parts so you can hear what’s going on while keeping the volume low.

Creative’s SuperWide feature is more interesting. It has three settings, Near, Far, and Off, with Near or Far engaging processing that expands the audio horizontally for a bit of a wraparound effect to create a greater sense of space.

SuperWide is also great for adjusting the sound for use with a computer or a TV, with the Near setting optimized for a desktop installation. When toggling through the two modes, I did get a sense of audio being closer or farther away, depending on the setting. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but a pretty cool one, and a good substitute for surround sound or spatial audio.

Creative Stage Pro 2.1 review: Price & release date

The Stage Pro’s top surface control buttons (Image credit: Future)

  • Price: $139.99 / £139.99 (around AU$220)
  • Date first available: July 2025

Creative has been on the budget audio train for a long time, so a price tag of £139.99 / $139.99 (AU$220) for a 2.1 soundbar system is about what one would expect from the company.

This system might have some limitations, as discussed in this review, but it is among the best cheap soundbars with a subwoofer. After all, when you get down to this price point, you’re either dealing with a very limited package, such as the even more affordable Majority Naga 60, a standalone soundbar that comes with its own performance issues. Alternatively, you’ll have to pay more for the just barely sub-$500 Sony HT-S2000. Of course, that 3.1-channel soundbar comes with Dolby Atmos and has better sound quality, but it’s almost four times the price despite being our top budget soundbar pick.

Should I buy the Creative Stage Pro 2.1?

Ports include HDMI ARC, optical digital and 3.5 analog audio inputs and a subwoofer output (Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyCreative Stage Pro 2.1

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Somewhat limited audio quality and features, but you’re still getting a lot for the price

4 / 5

Performance

The bass doesn’t get super deep, and the soundstage could be wider, but this soundbar will be an upgrade for most TVs

3.5 / 5

Design

A bit utilitarian looking, especially the sub, but it has an LED display and side-firing speakers

4 / 5

Value

Priced just right, especially when you consider it comes with a subwoofer

4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Creative Stage Pro 2.1: Also consider

How I tested the Creative Stage Pro 2.1

The Stage Pro with its included accessories (Image credit: Future)

  • Used regularly for several weeks
  • Tested with all sorts of media
  • Tested the different modes

I used the Creative Stage Pro 2.1 soundbar regularly for a few weeks, streaming all sorts of media from old and new movies to TV shows and music. I pressed every button on the remote to check out the different sound presets as well as the Superwide Technology modes.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed September 2025

Read more about how we test

Creative Stage Pro 2.1 soundbar: Price Comparison



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A screenshot of Microsoft's Copilot Gaming technology demo
Product Reviews

87% of game developers are already using AI agents and over a third use AI for creative elements like level design and dialogue according to a new Google survey

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Fully 87% of game developers are already using AI agents. That’s according to a new survey from Google Cloud and The Harris Poll of 615 game developers in the United States, South Korea, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. It’s also just the tip of the AI-berg.

Some of the tasks completed by AI aren’t immediately worrisome and you’d think will speed up development and reduce costs. The report says AI is proving useful for automating “cumbersome and repetitive tasks”, freeing developers to focus more on creative elements.

For instance, 47% of developers reported that AI is, “speeding up playtesting and balancing of mechanics, 45% say it is assisting in localization and translation of game content, and 44% cite it for improving code generation and scripting support.” Overall, 94% of developers surveyed, “expect AI to reduce overall development costs in the long term (3+ years).”


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That could help keep smaller developers in business, it might mean niche game titles are more viable, and so on. But it’s only part of the picture. Arguably one of the great fears among gamers is that game design, stories and dialogue will be replaced with the sort of AI slop that’s now bunging up YouTube and social media.

Well, slop or not, AI is increasingly being used for those purposes. Google’s survey found that 36% of respondents are using AI for dynamic level design, animation and rigging, and dialogue writing, while 37% of developers report they have, “enhanced experimentation with new gameplay or narrative concepts.”

Will today’s games be among the last to be coded, written and voiced by humans? (Image credit: rmk1234, CD Projekt Red)

The report is pretty granular about many aspects of game design and development and makes for an intriguing read. Overall, Google is nothing if not upbeat about the implications of all this. Of course it would be, considering it is one of the largest AI researchers on the planet. It has skin in the game, and it’s trying to sell AI to the world.

“Overall, the research found widespread adoption of gen AI in the games industry—and a surprising level of optimism for it. AI is already making a big difference in developer workflows, including productivity and creative tasks.

“Developers also see promising possibilities with AI agents and other emerging AI tools to accelerate game development and enhance player experiences,” the report says.

Of course, the end game, pun very much intended, of all this is presumably games fully AI generated in response to user prompts. “I want to play a first person shooter set in ancient Rome, but with modern weapons, procedural crime elements and Disney characters,” or whatever. And off you go.

Of course, except the one bit that almost definitely won’t be doable is the Disney characters due to IP ownership. Unless you pay extra for the Disney AI gaming subscription or similar. But you get the idea.

If that puts the burden on users to come up with game narratives, semi-curated games where the basic premise is tweaked by user prompts might make more sense for most mainstream gamers. But the main point is that it might all be AI generated one day. At which point will there be a submarket for “artisanal” hand-coded games with human-written narratives, real voices and the rest? All of this is to come, much is to be decided. But the the direction of travel looks pretty unambiguous, and a little icky.

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