The Decline of Narrative Designers in the Video Game Industry
As the video game industry continues to face massive layoffs, narrative jobs are taking the biggest hit. The industry’s job cuts over the past couple of years – more than 30,000 roles were eliminated in 2023 and 2024 – disproportionately affected narrative designers, the creative professionals who craft the story elements of the game and give a title its emotional punch.
A Tough Time to Break In
Even the director of the game Avowed, Carrie Patel, a successful author and narrative developer with over a decade of experience at the game studio Obsidian Entertainment, feels lucky she was able to start her career years ago. She can’t imagine trying to break into the industry under today’s conditions.
"It just seems to be harder and harder to find a path in," Patel says. "I’ve heard colleagues hired within the last three or five years say essentially the same thing."
The Value of Human Creativity
Patel has been with Obsidian since 2013, when she started as a narrative designer on the first Pillars of Eternity, a role-playing game released in 2015. She was narrative colead on the 2018 sequel, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, and went on to work on the narrative design for 2019’s The Outer Worlds.
The Importance of Human Storytelling
Avowed, a first-person fantasy RPG set in the same universe as Obsidian’s acclaimed Pillars of Eternity series, is available today on Windows PC and Xbox Series X via early access. The game’s official launch is on Tuesday, February 18.
Patel is excited to launch a title with a rich, immersive story – especially as the talent required to make such a game becomes more scarce in the industry. "I think RPGs, especially the kind we make, give players an opportunity to show that they’re excited about games that are deep, nuanced, and respect their time," she says.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
Part of Obsidian’s storytelling success has been its unwillingness to rely on artificial intelligence. "Good game stories are going to be written by good narrative designers," Patel says. AI use at studios has grown over the past few years; a survey of industry workers published earlier this year reported that 52 percent of respondents said they worked at companies using generative AI to develop games.
The Future of Storytelling
Despite corporate interest in the tech, game makers are less positive about AI than they have been in past years. "I don’t think any technology is going to replace human creativity," Patel says. "I think what makes our games special, our stories special, and our dialogues and characters special, are things that I haven’t seen any AI replicate."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the decline of narrative designers in the video game industry is a cause for concern. With the rise of artificial intelligence, it is crucial to recognize the value of human creativity and storytelling. As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential to prioritize human-driven storytelling and narrative design.
FAQs
Q: What is the impact of AI on the video game industry?
A: AI use at studios has grown, but game makers are less positive about AI than they have been in past years.
Q: What is the role of human creativity in game development?
A: Human creativity is essential in game development, and AI cannot replace it.
Q: What is the future of storytelling in the video game industry?
A: The future of storytelling in the video game industry is human-driven, and AI will not replace human creativity.
