Pocketpair studio head John Buckley has doubled down on his skepticism toward AI integration in games, asserting that the gaming community rejects the technology. Buckley's comments reflect growing tension between industry enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and player sentiment on the ground.
"Gamers don't want it," Buckley stated, emphasizing that resistance comes from players themselves rather than from within development studios. He added that proponents of AI in gaming often lack hands-on experience in the industry. "It feels like everyone who is super gung-ho about it isn't from the industry," he said, suggesting that external stakeholders and investors drive AI adoption rather than developers or players.
This marks Buckley's second public criticism of AI in gaming. His earlier warnings carried similar weight, positioning Pocketpair as vocally opposed to the technology despite the broader industry push toward implementation. The studio achieved massive commercial success with Palworld, the creature-catching survival game that shipped over 25 million copies across PC and Xbox platforms. That achievement gives Buckley credibility when discussing what players actually want.
The comments arrive amid heated industry debate. Major publishers like Activision, Microsoft, and others have pledged AI investment, citing efficiency gains in development. Publishers argue AI tools accelerate asset creation and reduce production costs. However, players have expressed concerns about job displacement, creative authenticity, and the potential devaluation of human artistry. Voice actors and developers have staged negotiations specifically addressing AI usage.
Pocketpair's position represents an alternative approach. Rather than racing to implement AI systems, the studio focused on core gameplay innovation and community engagement to drive Palworld's success. That strategy resonated with players and generated record player counts on Steam and Game Pass.
Buckley's stance aligns with player surveys showing skepticism toward AI-generated content, particularly in narrative and character design. While AI