When “Making Games in a Single Sentence” Becomes Reality: The Boom and Critical Reflections on the AI Gaming Sector
Hello everyone, I’m your financial journalist and economist. Today, we’re not talking about high-end chips or algorithms, but about a new trend that’s much closer to the average person—and one that might make you think, “I can do it too”—the AI game creation platforms.
If you’ve been browsing short videos recently, you might have seen ads like this: “No need to write code; just type, and you can create a game.” This is no longer a sci-fi movie scenario; it’s a reality happening in 2026. Giants like Tencent, NetEase, ByteDance (through Kimi), REDnote, and Douyin have all jumped into the game, and there’s even a whole wave of startups specializing in this area.
But is there really a blue ocean of opportunities behind this? Or is it just a scenario where a few people profit while most people suffer, with some even getting taken advantage of?
Next, I’ll break down this news into five key points in plain language to help you see the truth behind this trend.
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1. The Barrier Has Fallen: From “Programmer Exclusive” to “Everyone Can Play”
In the past, to make a game, you needed to know how to code (C++, C#, etc.) and have knowledge of art and game design. It was like opening a restaurant—you had to get a chef’s license and understand supply chain management. The barrier was extremely high, making the gaming industry a gathering place for elites.
But now, “Vibe coding” (also known as natural language programming) has changed the rules.
- What is Vibe coding? Simply put, you talk to the AI like you would to a friend and say, “I want to make a game like Minecraft with a swordsman as the protagonist and an ancient setting.” The AI will then automatically generate the code, textures, and even sound effects for you.
- Who Benefits? Mainly two types of people:
1. Absolute beginners: For example, Octopus, a student in the news, who knew nothing about coding. He created a team-based game called “Infinity Space” using AI and it became one of the top two most popular games on the platform.
2. People Changing Careers or Working Part-Time: Like Jin Haobin, who wanted to switch careers and found joy and even made money by using AI tools to develop games.
The Core Logic: AI has broken down the technical barriers. In the past, technology determined whether you could make a game; now, it’s your creativity that matters. It’s like how smartphones turned photography from a professional activity into something anyone can do with their phones, and game development has shifted from relying on specialized engines to using natural language commands.
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2. Giant Competition: Many Platforms, but Few Good Games
With the barrier lowered, has everyone rushed into making games? Yes, but the situation is more complex than it seems.
There are mainly three types of players in the market:
- Internet Giants: Tencent (YouDianLing), NetEase (XingJia), Xindong (TapTap Manufacturing), ByteDance (Kimi K399).
- Vertical Startups: Mujian, Soon, 233 Paradise, and others.
- Traffic Platforms: Douyin, REDnote, Kuaishou, which don’t develop game engines themselves but provide traffic for the small games generated by AI.
It Looks Busy, but Actually… There’s a Catch:
The news mentions a poignant statistic: In a competition organized by Alibaba Cloud MuleRun, over 100 people from China participated, while only 7 entries came from abroad. Moreover, the entries were criticized for being too “AI-driven” and not very engaging.
Why? Just because something is easy to make doesn’t mean it’s good. AI can quickly build the skeleton of a game, but the soul of the game—interesting gameplay, balanced mechanics, and compelling stories—still requires human refinement. Most AI-generated games are at the AP2 level (out of a full AP6).
This leads to a paradox: there are many platforms and creators, but there are still too few good games that keep players engaged. It’s similar to how there are many short-video platforms, but high-quality content is still scarce, with most being homogeneous and of poor quality.
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3. Revenue Challenges: Advertising and Paid Models Haven’t Taken Off
For creators, the biggest question is: “How do I make money from my game?”
There are two main models, both with their drawbacks:
- Model One: Advertising Revenue (IAA)
- Representative Platform: TapTap Manufacturing.
- Advantages: Low barrier; players play for free, and the platform makes money from ads. Jin Haobin earned over 2,000 yuan a day from one game using this model.
- Disadvantages: Only suitable for lightweight games (puzzle, platformer types). For more complex games with stories or strategies (like “Infinity Space”), ads can ruin the experience, and ad revenue is unstable and highly affected by traffic.
- Model Two: Buyout/Payment with Tokens (IAP)
- Representative Platforms: NetEase XingJia, Mujian, etc.
- Advantages: Suitable for games with deeper content; players pay for the experience.
- Disadvantages: Players are not yet accustomed to paying for content created by AI. AI requires computing power (tokens), which is expensive. If players don’t pay, or if the payment rate is low, the platforms may lose money, and creators won’t earn much.
Real-World Examples:
- Octopus’s “Infinity Space” was popular, but it had only 200 active users per week. He invested 10,000 yuan and earned only 1,000 yuan in prizes.
- Senior game designer A Yu, after 8 years in the industry, used AI to develop games but earned less than 8,000 yuan in total and had to go back to work.
Conclusion: Currently, only a few top creators are making money; most are doing it out of passion. AI has reduced production costs, but it hasn’t automatically solved the problem of how to sell their games.
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4. Trust Crisis: The Cat-and-Mouse Game Between Platforms and Creators
As platforms become more commercial, conflicts are emerging. A typical example is the controversy around the platform Mujian:
- Origins: Mujian initially focused on being free, community-driven, and creator-friendly, attracting many creators. But then it started fundraising and tried to monetize.
- Conflicts:
1. Content Responsibility: When it was free, the platform had loose content moderation. After monetization, it shifted the responsibility for problematic content to the creators. Creators felt betrayed.
2. Profit Distribution: Creators felt the platform was using their free content to raise funds without giving them a fair share of the profits.
- Result: Many creators boycotted and deleted their accounts.
This reveals a deeper issue: AI game creation platforms are essentially a two-sided market, connecting creators and players. For creators, the platform is a tool and a distribution channel; for platforms, creators provide content and help with fundraising. When platforms want to make money, they impose rules (like restricting exports, forcing splits, or tightening moderation). Creators are free to use AI tools or other platforms.
Who Has the Upper Hand?
For now, platforms have an advantage in traffic and distribution (e.g., games on TapTap Manufacturing can only gain maximum exposure within that platform’s ecosystem), but creators have the advantage in content creation. Without good content, the platform is useless. The two sides are in a delicate balance.
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5. Future Prospects: A Trend or a Bubble?
Let’s summarize the current state and potential future of this sector:
Current State:
- Technology: Moderate maturity. AI can generate games, but the quality varies, and they often lack a “soul” (meaning they lack engaging elements).
- Commercialization: In its early stages. Only lightweight games are making money through advertising; complex games are still struggling.
- Competitive Landscape: Giants are entering, and startups are being consolidated. In the future, it might resemble the App Store, with one or two dominant platforms dominating most of the traffic.
Advice for the Average Person:
1. Don’t Quit Your Job to Make Games: Unless you already have a stable income or plan to use AI games as a side hustle, the risk is too high.
2. Be wary of Platform Lock-in: Choose platforms that support content exports and don’t restrict the use of other AI tools. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
3. Focus on Content Differentiation: AI can help, but it can’t answer the question of “why players should play your game.” You need unique creativity, emotional resonance, or social appeal.
4. Be Patient: We’re still in a chaotic phase with many opportunities. The real benefits will likely go to those who can use AI to improve efficiency and persist in creating high-quality content.
In Summary: AI game creation platforms have lowered the barrier to making games, but they haven’t reduced the difficulty of making good or selling games. It’s a technological revolution and a business experiment. For the average person, it’s a fun hobby or side business, but don’t expect it to be a quick route to wealth.
In this trend, a few have reaped benefits, many are still figuring things out, and platforms are busy planning their next round of funding. Stay clear-headed and participate rationally—this is the way to survive in the AI era.