Tokyo Game Show 2026 celebrated the past, and an uncertain AI future | Opinion
Tokyo Game Show’s 30th anniversary badged itself as "the longest five days of nonstop play", a showcase of the future of gaming. In reality, the event in Japan’s largest gaming convention center, Makuhari Messe, ended after only four, the final day canceled due to the risk of an oncoming typhoon , and seemed to be mightily obsessed with the past, only otherwise hinting towards a more uncertain…
The Tokyo Game Show (TGS) celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026, but the event's focus shifted towards reminiscing the past rather than showcasing a promising future for gaming. Held at Japan's largest gaming convention center, Makuhari Messe, the show ended after four days due to an approaching typhoon. Despite the success of Nintendo Switch 2 and the growth of PC gaming, both globally and in Japan, free-to-play and mobile gaming dominated the proceedings, with a noticeable absence of Chinese companies amidst political tensions.
While some developers like SEGA, Square Enix, and Capcom showcased their recent titles, there was little indication of what the industry had in store for the next 30 years. However, generative AI emerged as an inescapable force rapidly transforming the gaming landscape, with developers using it for coding enhancements and asset generation, while others expressed concerns about job losses and potential price increases for hardware.
The Selected Indie 80 pavilion, showcasing indie games, was moved to the secondary convention area to make way for an AI technology exhibition. Despite the controversies surrounding AI's impact on the gaming industry, a glimmer of hope came from Japanese developers who openly embraced its use, with support for generative AI reaching 86% among developers.
However, the fear of AI's potential impact on the future of gaming remains a significant concern beyond the most conspicuous examples.
Written by urgent.news from GamesIndustry's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
