Master Thesis - A case study on the use of AI-generated music in video game development, 2025
This thesis presents a comprehensive case study on the use of AI-generated music in video game de... more This thesis presents a comprehensive case study on the use of AI-generated music in video game development, examining the role of music in depth. The study included both an observational preliminary study examining the technical capabilities of AIgenerated music tools and semi-structured interviews examining the experiences and perceptions of game development professionals. Starting from the historical development of game music and the basic principles of ludomusicology, this research examined the artistic, technical, professional, and ethical dimensions of integrating AI into the video game development field. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the capabilities of existing AI music production tools, Udio and Suno.AI, to produce music for different game genres (puzzle, action-adventure, horror). By observing the performance of the produced music in terms of structural, emotional, technical, and genre harmony, preliminary ideas were obtained on integrating these tools into professional development processes. In the second stage, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven people working in the gaming industry. The thematic analysis method was used to analyze the experiences of video game developers and musicians regarding these tools, the purposes for which they prefer them, how they use them in professional production processes, their perceptions on the artistic, technical and creative process, their concerns about issues such as originality, copyright and ethics, and their thoughts on how their long-term impact on the gaming industry will be. According to the findings, AI music tools were primarily used by developers in the early stages, such as idea generation, prototyping, and testing. It was stated that these tools provided advantages, especially for independent teams, in terms of speed, accessibility, and cost. However, due to structural limitations in controlling the music, difficulties in producing cyclical music, and uncertainties about copyrights and originality, participants were hesitant to incorporate this music into their final products. Participants generally evaluated AI as an auxiliary, supportive, and complementary tool, stating that no system can replace human creativity. This thesis contributed to the literature by providing a developerfocused perspective on how AI-assisted music production integrates into the game development process. In addition to technical capabilities, the study's consideration of developers' interactions and user experience with AI provided data on human-AI collaboration. The limited number of tools, types and participants, and the rapid change in AI technologies limited the study. Future research should explore a broader range of AI music tools and game genres, examine how players emotionally connect with AI-generated music, evaluate its impact on immersion compared to traditionally composed music, assess its ability to produce adaptive, interactive, and dynamic soundtracks, investigate integration with interactive audio engines, and develop frameworks for ethical use, legal clarity, and hybrid human-AI collaboration in music production.
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