Elon Musk Bets Big on AI Game Development in 2026

As the world’s wealthiest individual and the owner of prominent companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk finds himself back in the spotlight. He previously claimed that large corporations own an overabundance of game studios. Ironically, Musk’s own corporation then announced plans to establish an AI game studio with the stated goal of making games great again.

Musk is a strong supporter of emerging technologies, especially AI. Many people believe AI generated games and movies are inferior but the tech CEO thinks that in about a year, his company will be able to close the gap.

Elon Musk’s Great Gaming Gamble

Musk may have many plans that he wants to pursue, but he seems serious about this one. The billionaire recently confirmed on his platform, X, that this new studio’s first game is scheduled for a 2026 release. Will the xAI game studio actually release something in 2026? According to Musk, this AI-generated game is expected to be released before the end of next year. Furthermore, his Grok AI created a brief clip to accompany this announcement, which another user accurately described as looking terrible, depicting a surreal scene of an unicyclist attacking a tank.

While the update itself is sparse on concrete details, its unprompted nature makes it noteworthy. The AI game studio was first mentioned a year ago, with many speculating it wouldn’t progress beyond the initial idea. However, some held out hope for the sheer spectacle it would provide, similar to the dramatic acquisition of the platform formerly known as Twitter. Musk’s resurrection of the concept demonstrates a certain level of commitment, though that does not guarantee a finished product will ever materialize.

Defining Greatness is the Real Challenge

Given that other video games utilizing generative AI already exist, the release of this AI game is a real possibility. Moreover, Musk has no fundamental reason why his company can’t produce something comparable. Still, he faces a significant challenge that he himself caused with his own promotion. By promising that the game will be great, players may expect it to be a universally recognized standard of quality. So, does the billionaire’s own track record inspire confidence in his definition of greatness?

The Cybertruck is a perfect example of Musk not living up to his own standards, as most people would not call it a great vehicle. On top of that, Musk’s actions on X of posting content widely seen as racist and transphobic may also impact people’s desire to play his AI game. Only time will tell whether his AI-generated video game will be considered the next great game.

Between A Grok and a Hard Place

While anything is theoretically possible, the evidence certainly suggests a particular outcome. Alongside this gaming update, Musk made a bold prediction about what his Grok AI will make next. He’s planning to drop a watchable movie by the end of next year, as one of the genuinely good films by 2027. Who knows whether an AI can truly develop a coherent and engaging narrative for a feature film? Musk’s answer will be a resounding yes.

Furthermore, he confirmed that another seemingly off-the-cuff idea is moving forward as a real project. Musk recently dropped a beta of an AI-powered intended replacement for Wikipedia called Grokipedia, which is set to launch later this month. Ultimately, the picture that these parallel announcements paint of a man who is desperately pushing AI technology into diverse fields, regardless of the practical necessity or proven demand for such products.

This article originally appeared on Total Apex Gaming