Hear Me Out: AI Has A Place In MMOs

Popular free-to-play MMOs like Lost Ark, Guild Wars 2, RuneScape, Warframe, Destiny 2, and Albion Online aren’t just successful by chance. These games thrive because they’re crafted by passionate developers who pour heart, soul, and vision into every detail. Time and again, these titles prove that creativity is not just important but essential.

So, where does AI fit into all of this? Well, I actually think it has a place; but only a supporting one. AI should strictly handle those tedious, repetitive tasks that developers must take care of anyways: asset generation, environment testing, gameplay balancing, backend automation, etc. By taking care of the less glamorous but necessary work, more time is freed up for developers to focus on the fun stuff that really brings these massive worlds to life. Because remember that MMOs are enormous undertakings.

When it comes to the heart and soul of an MMO — the rich stories, memorable characters, and immersive worlds — that magic has to come from people. AI can’t capture that human spark, and frankly, it shouldn’t even try. In fact, I wouldn’t even let AI write quests.

Letting AI take the reins on creative elements risks flattening the unique flavors that make each MMO stand out. Part of what makes exploring these worlds so rewarding is knowing that real people crafted them — their humor, their quirks, their vision for what makes a unreal setting feel real. And trust me, players notice when something feels cookie-cutter or soulless.