Konami President argues AI will not revolutionize video game market

Hideki Hayakawa, president of Konami Digital Entertainment, stated in the company’s 2026 Integrated Report that generative artificial intelligence is unlikely to cause a drastic revolution in the video game market.

While acknowledging that AI may improve production efficiency, Hayakawa emphasized that the most critical factors for creating innovative and entertaining games remain people and creators. He argued that the unique “chemical reaction” produced by diverse teams of human creators exchanging different perspectives is something that cannot be easily replaced by technology.

Addressing the idea that AI will lower industry entry barriers, Hayakawa noted that such barriers have already been reduced by the advancement of general-purpose game engines and the rise of user-generated content (UGC). Despite his skepticism regarding AI’s ability to reshape the market, he views technological evolution as a net positive and noted that Konami provides systematic support to help creators assess and utilize new technologies.