Gaming industry could unlock $22 billion in profits on AI-driven cost cuts, says Morgan Stanley

Advanced artificial intelligence tools could help cut down video game developing costs by nearly half, potentially unlocking about $22 billion in annual profits for game makers worldwide, Morgan Stanley analysts said.

The adoption of AI tools to automate tasks such as creating gaming environments, generating dialogue, and testing software could help shorten production timelines and reduce costs, helping lift margins over time, the brokerage said in a note dated Tuesday, April 21.

However, it added, gains are unlikely to be distributed evenly across the gaming ecosystem.

The Wall Street brokerage estimates global consumer spending on video games will total $275 billion this year, with roughly 20%, or about $55 billion, set to be reinvested in game development and operations.

Typically expensive and labor intensive, game development could become leaner as AI enables smaller teams and faster post-launch improvements, Morgan Stanley added.

The scale of modern game development is illustrated by Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the industry’s most anticipated titles, that is being developed since around 2018 — five years after the release of GTA V. It is currently slated for a November  2026 launch after multiple delays.

“We see value concentrating in scaled platforms and discovery, particularly among companies with proprietary data, IP, and live operations,” the brokerage said.

“Biggest beneficiaries may be those who control distribution, data, and engagement.”

Morgan Stanley added that gaming platform and operators including Tencent, Sony, and Roblox could be key beneficiaries, while large publishers such as Take-Two, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft, which have the scale to deploy AI across multiple titles, could also benefit.

In contrast, companies with weaker franchises, such as Playtika and Netmarble may face greater pressure as AI lowers the cost to make mid-scale games, inviting more competition.

“Game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine face a more binary outcome: adapt or be disrupted,” the brokerage said.

Beyond cost savings, AI could lift revenues by keeping games engaging for longer, boosting spending on add-on content, in-game purchases and subscriptions.

Rather than relying mainly on new releases, publishers could shift focus to upgrading existing franchises through AI-driven content, cushioning the financial impact, the brokerage said. – Rappler.com