Japanese Game Developers Survey Claims 100 Percent Now Use Generative AI Tools
Japanese Game Developers Survey – The JOGA 2026 Survey revealed that all Japanese online game developers, 100% of those surveyed, are using generative AI tools. The results are based on the Japan Online Game Association (JOGA) Online Game Market Research Report 2026, issued on July 10, 2026, covering Japan’s online gaming industry using 2025 market data.
The annual report, published by JOGA and Kadokawa ASCII Laboratories, has been monitoring Japanese online game standards since 2004. It only includes internet-based games and does not include traditional console games, offline PC games or standalone offline mobile games.
Google Gemini is the leader in AI adoption among game developers.
The most popular AI tool Japanese online game companies use is Google Gemini (94%), according to the report. “76% of surveyed companies use GitHub Copilot, followed by 84% of surveyed companies using Claude.”
The key difference from last year is how developers are using AI. In previous JOGA research, ChatGPT was the top tool with 59% of organisations using it, and content planning was a key AI use case. In the 2026 report, the studios mainly use AI to analyse user preferences and predict player behaviour.
The results indicate that AI is increasingly used as a tool for business intelligence and less as a substitute for creativity. Most studios are turning to AI to learn more about their players, increase engagement, and inform development decisions with data insights.
Players fear copyright and creativity
Developers are embracing AI, but players are worried about its impact. JOGA’s player survey found that “the biggest concerns were copyright infringement and that AI could make games feel too similar.”
Most online game companies in Japan are not focused on using AI to generate artwork, music or voice acting, the report says. But it indicates that some studios are possibly exploring these areas, but no specific figures were provided.
Industry leaders say AI adoption across gaming is even higher than reported. “A lot of the big studios are already using AI, but they don’t talk about it because it’s still a controversial topic,” said Jack Buser, a Google Cloud executive.
Industry surveys also show the trend is on the rise. When we asked Japanese game companies about AI back in 2025, a CESA survey found that 51% were using AI, mainly to create visual assets, images, stories and text.
Major companies have taken different paths. Capcom says it uses AI internally for workflow efficiencies, but the human creativity is what drives the creative decisions. CD Projekt also uses AI for efficiency, but remains human-driven in game creation. Nintendo has shied away from creative AI in first-party titles because of copyright issues.
The JOGA 2026 report demonstrates how AI has been integrated into Japan’s online gaming industry, yet it leaves unanswered questions about creativity, originality and future costs of AI.
Source
Video Games Chronicle – In its 2026 report, JOGA found that 100% of Japanese online game developers surveyed use generative AI tools. 94% of developers are using Google Gemini, 84% are using Claude and 76% are using GitHub Copilot.
Gamer PC – The JOGA 2026 survey was conducted by Kadokawa ASCII Laboratories and was reported by Famitsu and Automaton. Most studios were found to use generative AI mainly for user preference analysis and behaviour prediction, rather than for creative tasks such as artwork, music or voice acting.
Tweak Town – The JOGA 2026 report shows the use of AI in Japan’s online game industry has moved from content planning to player analysis and behaviour prediction. Google Gemini was the go-to tool. Companies such as Capcom and CD Projekt use AI primarily for efficiency, and Nintendo steers clear of it due to IP and copyright issues.
AUTOMATION – The JOGA 2026 report was released on July 10, 2026, with trends in the Japanese online gaming market and among developers. Another CESA survey found that 51% of Japanese game companies used AI mostly for visual assets and story generation. Another survey found that 59% of creative companies use AI, but 71.4% did not say that they did.
Eurogamer.net – And a survey conducted during the 2025 Tokyo Game Show found that about half of game developers were already using generative AI. Capcom and Sony said artificial intelligence can help in development but human creativity will be key. Japanese developers mainly use AI for data analysis and player insights, and future adoption will depend on costs and pricing of AI.
