Xbox manager says AI is already being used in game development

Brandon Stirrup deleted his comments from X a day after saying that AI usage is widespread in the gaming industry.

By Robin Bea Oct. 31, 2026 4:00 pm EST esthermm/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Generative AI is one of the most controversial topics in game development right now, and whether it's the future of the medium or a temporary blight on it depends on who you ask. Brandon Stirrup, a strategy manager at Xbox, recently waded into the debate, claiming that Xbox is currently using AI to develop games and those who say they aren't are merely "pretending." Stirrup deactivated his social media account shortly after (though his posts have been archived elsewhere), igniting conversations about what role generative AI actually has or should have in game development.