At Gamescom, it felt like the industry now has a plan: make games quicker

Game industry leaders at Gamescom are focusing on shortening development cycles from 5+ years to 1-3 years to reduce costs and risks. While few want to compromise on graphics quality, many are quietly using AI for coding and concept art—though most avoid using it for final game assets due to potential backlash. This shift represents a strategic response to the industry's recent layoffs and financial challenges.