Super Smash Bros. Creator Warns AI Could Flood Steam With Clones

 

Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, has warned that artificial intelligence could flood Steam with repetitive games, making it increasingly difficult for original projects to stand out.

Speaking in an interview with Japanese publication Denfaminicogamer, Sakurai discussed the growing number of games released each year and the challenges developers face when creating something genuinely new.

He pointed out that Steam received approximately 275 new games in 2010, compared with more than 19,000 annually today. Sakurai expects that number to continue rising as AI tools make game development more accessible.

However, he believes many AI-assisted projects could struggle commercially, particularly those that rely heavily on copying existing gameplay systems rather than introducing original ideas.

Sakurai highlighted Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library, a puzzle game about organizing books in a magical library, as an example of a simple concept that inspired similar experiences.

He suggested that AI could make reproducing established gameplay mechanics even easier, potentially increasing the number of nearly identical games available to players.

The veteran developer also referenced Fumito Ueda, known for ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. While AI might reproduce elements of Ueda's previous games, Sakurai argued that it cannot anticipate the entirely new ideas the designer may introduce in future projects.

His comments followed the conclusion of the Game Designers Award, which Sakurai helped lead for 16 years. The award recognized originality and creative design rather than commercial performance.

Despite his concerns about AI-generated content, Sakurai emphasized that developers who explore new concepts and create distinctive experiences will remain important as the gaming industry continues to expand.