Netflix Bullish on Gen AI for Games After Laying Off Human Game Developers

Netflix is heavily investing in generative AI for video game development, which it considers a significant turning point in the industry. Mike Verdu, now VP of GenAI for Games at Netflix, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of AI to revolutionize game experiences and accelerate development. This announcement comes shortly after Netflix closed its in-house big-budget game studio, Team Blue, and laid off 35 developers. Verdu emphasized a vision that centers on creators, using AI to enhance and speed up game production while empowering smaller teams with advanced capabilities. However, the role of generative AI in game development raises concerns among artists and developers about job displacement and creative impact. Netflix’s overall plans for AI in gaming remain unclear, though generative AI is already used in the industry for tasks like generating art and dialogue.