Konami President Doubts AI Will Reshape Game Market
Hideki Hayakawa said lowering barriers to entry has already come from general-purpose engines and user-generated content, not AI.
Konami released its financial statement on October 16, 2026, in which Hideki Hayakawa, representative director and president at Konami Digital Entertainment, said he does not believe the market will shift significantly because of AI.
Hayakawa said the lowering of barriers to entry has already happened through the growth of general-purpose game engines and user-generated content. He added that the most important factor in developing interesting and innovative games is people, specifically creators.
The report states that AI presents a notable opportunity and could support developers in some ways. Konami said it remains cautious in researching AI while slowly providing guidance to its teams on guardrails and protocols.
The company is currently developing Wai Wai World Craft as an alternative to Roblox.
Industry context
AI has been a major topic of concern for many game studios. Designers have raised concerns about its impact on development practices and the external use of the technology to infringe copyrighted material. Other studios, such as Sega, have expressed similar views on AI.
Quick answers
What did Konami's president say about AI and the game market?
Hideki Hayakawa said he does not believe the market will shift significantly because of AI, and that people — specifically creators — are the most important factor in making interesting and innovative games.
Is Konami developing a Roblox alternative?
Yes. Konami is currently developing Wai Wai World Craft as an alternative to Roblox.