Earlier this week, Square Enix announced its intention to radically reduce the number of quality assurance staff and use generative artificial intelligence to performs 70% of game quality control and debugging. The company further noted that it wants to “create a competitive advantage in game development.” However, Michael Dawes, publishing director at Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian, criticized Square Enix and called its plan “stupid.”
“So QA people are some of the most video game-involved people in any company,” Dawes wrote on the page X. “They are an integral part of your community teams. For publishing. They give you real feedback. They know what's good and what's bad before the audience does, and they are the most resilient department.”
“[The] The idea that quality assurance people can be replaced on a large scale is stupid because it assumes that talking to them can be replaced, which they can't.” Dawes added. “They provide an extremely beneficial vibration test.”
Dawes also noted that quality assurance jobs are often a gateway for people to get into the video game industry. He warns that losing quality assurance professionals risks missing out on future designers and other positions.
Quality assurance is not an inherently entry-level job, but I will also add that without industry access you won't find your top designers. This is a stupid way. You want to be able to offer people rewarding positions that will allow them to grow and help them grow you!
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) November 6, 2025
In a subsequent message, Daus noted that Square Enix plans to save $19.6 million by handing over quality control to AI. He also questioned why executives weren't fired if the company was in such dire need of savings.
The desired annual savings of $19.6 million – although a significant amount of money in real life – is not very significant for a AAA company. If things are so bad, then where are the “dismissals” of managers? I'm pretty sure these games aren't failing because of quality control, publishing, etc. https://t.co/MCJw16kBHz
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) November 7, 2025
There are reports that Square Enix is already holding mass layoffs of employees. Square Enix isn't the only video game company using artificial intelligence. Electronic Arts reportedly told its employees to treat AI as “thinking partners“A recent study also showed that over 50% of Japanese game publishers use AI somehow. Renowned game developers Hideo Kojima and Glen Schofield stated that Artificial Intelligence Tools Should Be Used in game creation.
