The “cathedral” argument: craft versus convenience
Former Naughty Dog special effects artist Matt Radford raised an eyebrow about where modern dev tools might be taking the industry on a recent Kiwi Talkz podcast. He didn’t drop the buzzword “generative AI” outright, but he pointed to automation and new pipelines as forces that could erode hands-on skills — the same painstaking craft that went into games like Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us Part II.
His pitch is simple and weirdly vivid: someday players might gape at these old, human-made masterpieces the way we stare at medieval cathedrals — works of art born from a particular era’s techniques and obsession, impossible to replicate today. Radford worries that as studios chase efficiency, the deep, artisanal knowledge behind sculpting, hand-animating, and directing real-person performances could fade away.
He also argued that studios could get comfortable with faster tools and lower costs, which might mean fewer gigantic, expensive narrative action-games. If budgets and talent shift, titles that once needed enormous time and human craft might no longer get made the same way — or at all.
Why this actually matters for players (and why to keep an eye on 2027)
So what does that mean for you, the player? In practical terms: changes to how animation, facial performances, modeling, and worldbuilding are produced could alter the feel of story-led games. Automated tools can speed things up, sure, but they can also flatten the tiny imperfections and choices that give characters and worlds their soul.
On the flip side, Radford is cautiously optimistic about Naughty Dog itself — he doesn’t think the studio will stop making those big, handcrafted experiences overnight. There’s still a spotlight on Naughty Dog’s upcoming PS5-exclusive sci-fi project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which the studio plans to reveal more of in 2027. That makes this debate not just academic: it could shape how future blockbusters are made and funded.
Community reaction to takes like Radford’s is mixed. Some folks worry about losing artisanal game dev skills; others welcome faster pipelines that democratize creation. Important note: when people talk about AI and leaks around blockbuster budgets or the future of franchises like Grand Theft Auto, treat those specifics as unconfirmed unless studios themselves confirm them.
The takeaway? Expect shifts. Some craftsmanship may become rarer, and the industry’s economics might push devs toward different methods. But studios with a track record of high-touch, narrative-driven work still have the will — and the audience — to try preserving that craft. For now, keep an eye on Naughty Dog and the 2027 reveal — it could be a litmus test for which way the wind is blowing.
