Anton Stasenko Speaks at ITMO GameDev Day on AI in Game Development

ZAVOD Games CEO Anton Stasenko spoke at ITMO GameDev Day, an annual event organized by ITMO University’s School of Video Game Development. The event brings together students, aspiring developers, and industry professionals to exchange practical expertise and discuss current trends and challenges in game development, publishing, and project management.

One of the key topics of the event was the use of artificial intelligence in game development. Anton Stasenko shared his perspective on how AI is changing workflows across the games industry, the opportunities it creates for developers, and why working with these technologies requires not only technical skills but also an understanding of their limitations and potential risks.

“Using artificial intelligence is neither magic nor a black box. AI is already being used across the game development pipeline. However, like any other tool, it requires specialized knowledge, practical skills, and an understanding of the responsibility that comes with its potential risks. For some, these tools can unlock opportunities that were previously out of reach, while for others, they can lead to serious challenges. That is why it is important to experiment, try different approaches, and build practical experience. AI has already become part of the games industry, and knowing how to use it effectively will be a fundamental skill for any developer who wants to stay relevant and competitive,” said Anton Stasenko.

ITMO GameDev Day serves as a platform for knowledge exchange between industry professionals and the next generation of game developers. The 2026 program brought together representatives from VK Play, HeroCraft, Boutique, ZAVOD Games, and other companies from the games industry.

In addition to talks and discussions, attendees had the opportunity to explore dozens of student projects presented as part of the event’s showcase. This year’s showcase received a record number of submissions, with more than 100 teams applying to take part.