Masahiro Sakurai, the celebrated creator behind the Super Smash Bros. and Kirby series, has voiced concern over the current state of large-scale game development, describing it as increasingly time-consuming and unsustainable. In his recent remarks, Sakurai reflected on the growing complexity of modern game production and pointed to generative AI as a potential solution for improving development efficiency.
“Frankly speaking, the future is very unclear,” Sakurai admitted when asked about the direction of the gaming industry. He explained that as games grow in scale and scope, the time and effort needed to produce them have reached unsustainable levels. “I do feel that this situation cannot continue as it is,” he said. “At present, the only effective breakthrough I can think of is the utilization of generative AI.”
Sakurai suggested that studios may soon need to overhaul their development models to survive in this changing landscape. “We are now at a stage where we must change the development framework itself, such as by improving work efficiency through the use of generative AI. It may become an era where only companies that can successfully adapt to this change will be able to survive,” he observed.
Discussing the evolving nature of development teams, Sakurai noted a growing problem in the field: the shrinking number of directors who can manage large-scale projects. “In the past, if someone worked in design they might move on to get experience as a planner, but now everyone is so specialized,” he explained. “It’s hard to grow a wide variety of skills.” This increasing specialization, according to him, limits opportunities for individuals to develop the broad expertise once common among game creators.
Sakurai also reflected on the indie game scene, acknowledging both its promise and its challenges. “At present, more than ten thousand titles are released each year, making it extremely difficult for any single game to stand out,” he said. While indie games offer creative freedom and flexibility, these qualities alone do not guarantee success. “In order to succeed in the market, great effort, luck, high quality, and distinctiveness are also required,” he added.
Despite these challenges, Sakurai remains hopeful that new talents will continue to emerge, even if the path they walk differs greatly from his own. Comparing the situation to that of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, he remarked, “Mr. Miyazaki performs work that only he is capable of doing. His path is not something that others can simply follow or imitate. On the contrary, what is important is to compete by forging entirely different paths. I believe the same applies to game design.”
Sakurai’s observations come as both his most famous creations reach impressive sales milestones. According to Yahoo Japan, the Kirby series has now surpassed 50 million units sold worldwide, buoyed in part by the success of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which alone sold approximately 8 million copies. The Super Smash Bros. franchise has likewise proven its enduring appeal, with a total of 72 million units sold globally.
Looking ahead, Sakurai’s next project is reported to be a sequel to Kirby Air Ride, a cult favorite from the Nintendo GameCube era. While details remain limited, fans of the franchise will be eager to see how Sakurai’s vision adapts to the evolving demands of the industry he has helped shape.
