John LittleFor those familiar with the history of PlayStation, Shuhei Yoshida is a familiar name. Many people know him not only as an industry veteran, but also as the former SIE president from 2008 to 2019. After this, he became head of PlayStation Indies until he retired in 2025.
Yoshida’s experience with indie games is something that is well established. So, when he appeared at the Osaka Indie Games Summit 2025, it was not a shock. When interviewed, Yoshida chose to speak extensively on AI and how believes it will be a positive thing for indie developers.
Firstly Yoshida recognized that AI has been used in development to streamline processes in making games. He believes many of these do not affect the final product.
However, he stated that his main interest was cases where AI does affect the final product. He referenced Hanashi no Hanashi, a Japanese title where you converse with an AI-controlled character to solve a mystery.
“It’s amazing that you can interact with the game in your own words rather than choosing from the traditional set of options. I think these kinds of ideas and the speed at which they’re being implemented are truly unique to indie games.”
Yoshida also mentioned a different kind of engagement perpetuated by AI. He mentioned Marvel Snap, where players are pitted against AI opponents that are easier to beat after a few consecutive losses. He argues that it serves to boost engagement and guide the player on how to improve at the game.
“I believe it’s indie developers who are the first to pioneer not only the new possibilities of AI, but also new technologies in general. That’s why indie games are so fun.”
So, do you think that AI opens new possibilities for indie games? Feel free to comment your thoughts below.