Metal Gear Solid Publisher Gives Official Update On AI

Published Oct 16, 2026, 1:37 PM EDT

Ben Brosofsky has been writing for Screen Rant since 2022 and editing since 2024. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor's in Cinema & Media Arts. Writing serves as a much-needed distraction from tackling a backlog of Steam games that will never be surmounted.

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AI is a hot topic in a lot of industries right now, and video games are obviously no exception. Some game studios have started pivoting to AI-focused development, while others have established a clear intent to avoid using generative AI in releases. Now, Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami has spoken up on the topic.

While Konami spent a while focusing on mobile games and slots rather than its primary video game franchises, it's recently started to reinvest in games like Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania, and Silent Hill. The broad video game market is clearly a priority again, and Konami's latest financial report addresses the effect of AI on the industry.

As reported by Kotaku, Konami's 2026 Integrated Report comes with some comments from Konami Digital Entertainment president Hideki Hayakawa. Hayakawa acknowledges the perspective that "AI will allow anyone to easily make games," but counters that he does not expect that "the market will shift significantly."

Hayakawa ultimately emphasizes the importance of human creativity in the game development process, highlighting the benefits of "people from diverse backgrounds" coming together to exchange ideas. According to Hayakawa, "This kind of interaction cannot be replaced easily."

Hayakawa's comments don't specifically rule out the use of AI in game development at Konami, but they do make it clear that the company doesn't see it as a viable alternative to human creativity on the whole. While AI-generated content in-game has resulted in significant backlash for a number of releases, some studios have started to use it as a more behind-the-scenes part of the pipeline in elements like coding.

Hopefully, Konami's emphasis on human creativity will continue to define upcoming games from the studio. Konami's latest title, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, was made in cooperation with the indie studio Evil Empire, and the game displays plenty of fun ideas and ingenuity. It also boasts some gorgeous art direction, a far cry from the type of visual content that generative AI tends to produce.

Regardless of AI's direct impact on game development, the market has already been undergoing massive shifts in recent years, with some large-scale companies that expanded during COVID shuttering studios and laying off jobs. The future of physical releases is also set for a major shift, with PlayStation announcing an end to discs in January 2028.

It's nice to hear that Konami is confident in its own position, at least for now. The studio's break with Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima and pivot into a mobile focus weren't exactly flattering, but it's clear that its current priorities are different than they were at the time. Now that Konami's biggest franchises have all returned, it'll be interesting to see what direction they take in the coming years, especially if human creativity continues to be the priority.