Hiraku Agent released a study on September 16 that delves into how the integration of AI technology has shaped the Japanese gaming sector, specifically regarding sought-after skills and job roles. The findings stem from a 2026 poll involving approximately 1,008 individuals in recruitment positions within the domestic game industry, with comparisons drawn to a similar poll from 2024.
Respondents to the 2026 survey were asked which qualities employers prioritize when hiring. The most frequent answer was “previous experience and skills,” accounting for 32.9%, followed by “ability and willingness to adapt to and learn new technologies like AI” at 30.8%, and “familiarity with the company’s games” at 27.9%.
These outcomes contrast with Hiraku Agent’s 2024 survey, where the top three responses were “previous experience and skills” at 35.1%, “favorite game genres” at 26.3%, and “communication skills” at 25.1%. The report concludes that a candidate’s aptitude and knowledge regarding AI have become a considerably more critical factor for employers. When queried about the importance of candidates’ AI skills, including experience with generative AI, in recent hiring, 34.1% of recruiters deemed them “highly important,” while 57.0% considered them “somewhat important.”
Notably, recruiters identified roles experiencing fewer job openings due to AI’s proliferation. The most cited category was “art and graphics positions involving simpler tasks like background and prop creation” (44.6%), followed by “assistant-level programmers” (37.2%) and “testing and debugging staff” (28.8%). Hiraku Agent suggests that demand may be waning for tasks traditionally handled by junior or less-experienced creators, including those that follow established rules and can now be AI-assisted or automated. The agency posits that candidates with limited experience may need to demonstrate specialized expertise or additional value beyond standard production tasks, potentially raising the bar for entering the industry.
Conversely, the survey revealed growing employer demand for roles that leverage AI effectively. The most frequently mentioned position was “high-level art directors skilled at refining and guiding generative AI output,” at 45.9%. This was followed by “AI engineers and technical artists capable of incorporating AI into development workflows and pipelines” at 44.1%, and “creators proficient in using AI tools to expedite deliverables” at 34.6%.
In related news, CESA, the organizer of Tokyo Game Show, recently unveiled the 2026 findings of its annual video game industry report, revealing that over 85% of Japanese game developers utilize generative AI, a substantial jump from last year’s 51%.
Mido