AI at TGS 2026 has emerged as more than just another technology trend. According to a new survey by the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA), 85.8% of surveyed Japanese game developers now use generative AI as part of their work. The findings were included in the preview edition of the CESA Game Industry Report 2026, released on September 17 during Tokyo Game Show 2026.
Nearly two-thirds use GenAI every day
CESA’s “Game Developers’ Employment and Career Formation 2026” survey was conducted online between May and August 2026 and collected 1,349 valid responses. Participants included producers, directors, engineers, artists, technical artists, designers, sound creators, QA and testers, as well as management, educators and students.
According to the survey, 63% of respondents use generative AI daily, while another 22.8% use it occasionally. Together, these groups account for the headline figure of 85.8%. Another 8.6% said they were testing or evaluating generative AI tools.
However, the number needs some context. It does not mean that 85.8% of Japanese games contain AI-generated artwork or other AI-generated assets. The figure refers to the use of generative AI in developers’ work. CESA’s examples include tools such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, image-generation services and asset-generation services.
What are developers using AI for?
A separate CESA survey of member companies provides an interesting look at why studios are adopting generative AI.
Among the 48 companies that answered the relevant questions, 38 identified improved operational efficiency and productivity as an expected benefit. Shorter development periods followed with 30 responses, while 29 companies pointed to lower development and operating costs.
Companies also see potential in multilingual support and global expansion, new forms of creative expression, improved content quality and addressing labor shortages.
In other words, the current Japanese approach to GenAI appears to focus heavily on making game production more efficient.
Human oversight remains important
Despite the high level of AI adoption, Japanese game companies are not simply handing development over to AI.
CESA reports that the most common management practice is human checking, correction and supervision of AI-generated output. Companies also restrict which AI tools employees can use and often avoid using generated output without additional review.
This is particularly relevant to game development, where creative consistency, technical requirements and intellectual-property concerns all matter.
High AI adoption therefore does not necessarily mean fully automated game production. Instead, the current model appears closer to using AI as an additional tool while keeping human developers responsible for reviewing and approving the results.
AI takes a visible role at TGS 2026
The timing of the CESA report is also significant. Its preview was released during Tokyo Game Show 2026, where AI was increasingly visible not only behind the scenes but also in player-facing technology.
For example, demonstrations at TGS 2026 included AI-powered voice interaction that allows game characters to respond directly to a player’s voice.
This reflects a broader shift in the industry’s conversation. The question is increasingly moving away from whether game developers will use AI and toward where AI can actually improve development and the player experience.
What does the 85.8% figure really tell us?
The most important takeaway from the CESA survey is not simply the percentage itself, but how quickly generative AI has become part of everyday development work.
GenAI is no longer limited to a small group of early adopters. According to the survey, the vast majority of respondents already use these tools in their work, with 63% doing so every day.
At the same time, CESA’s findings show that human oversight remains a central part of AI adoption. For now, the trend looks less like a complete replacement of developers and more like developers working alongside AI tools.
If the data presented at TGS 2026 is any indication, generative AI has already become a regular part of the toolkit for a large share of Japan’s game development industry. The full CESA Game Industry Report 2026 is scheduled for release in December 2026 and should provide additional details on how AI is reshaping the sector.
