“Gen Z Loves AI Slop”: Former Square Enix Exec Says Much of AI Sentiment Is Emotional, Not Logical

The CEO of Genvid, the company behind interactive series like Silent Hill Ascension, has claimed that "consumers generally do not care" about the inclusion of generative AI in video games. Jacob Navok, a former Square Enix director, stated that "Gen Z loves AI slop," arguing that the anti-AI sentiment found in media articles does not reflect the reality of the market. He pointed to the massive concurrent player counts of viral hits—referencing a title he called "Steal a Brainrot"—as evidence that the younger generation has embraced content based on "AI slop characters."

Navok noted that the upcoming generation of gamers are "born in the slop" and are unbothered by it. He highlighted that Arc Raiders has enjoyed significant sales and popularity despite facing controversy for using generative AI to create character voices. However, streamer Shroud has suggested that this specific controversy may have held the game back from being considered for a Game of the Year award.

Contrary to Navok's claims, there have been several recent instances where consumer pushback forced changes. Ubisoft recently removed an image containing AI-generated elements from Anno 117: Pax Romana after fans complained. Similarly, players of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 took to social media to criticize AI-generated assets found within the game. Developers for The Alters and Jurassic World Evolution 3 have also faced significant backlash for undisclosed AI usage, suggesting that a portion of the audience remains highly critical of the technology.

Navok maintains that a "tipping point has been reached" and that the technology is here to stay. He argued that focusing on AI art while ignoring the widespread use of AI tools like Claude for coding is "driven by emotion rather than logic." His sentiment is echoed by other industry leaders; EA's CEO has described AI as the core of their business, and Square Enix is aggressively applying the technology. Conversely, Nintendo has stated it intends to go in a "different direction" than the rest of the industry regarding AI.