A16z’s Joshua Lu says AI is already radically changing video games and Discord is the future

Joshua Lu discusses AI's impact on video games and Discord's potential as a gaming platform.

: Joshua Lu talks about the transformative effects of AI on video games and sees Discord as the future platform for game distribution. He mentions AI's role in speeding up development and cites examples like Clementine and Echo Chunk. Speedrun accelerator is highlighted for its financial support to gaming startups and AI projects. Lu also stresses the importance of building games within Discord to improve discoverability.

Joshua Lu, partner at Andreessen Horowitz, emphasizes the significant impact AI is having on the video game industry. His extensive experience at Zynga, Blizzard Entertainment, and Meta has given him insights into how emerging technologies can reshape gaming. Now an investor, Lu helped launch the Speedrun accelerator, which invests $750,000 each into 40 gaming startups twice a year, focusing heavily on AI-driven projects.

Lu notes that half of the current accelerator class involves AI companies, which range from creating AI-crafted stories to developing 3D avatars. He envisions a future where high-quality games, similar to Diablo Immortal, can be produced with much fewer resources. Examples like Clementine and Echo Chunk demonstrate the creative potential AI brings to game design and development.

Additionally, Lu advocates for game development on Discord, a platform he believes could help discover new social games. Discord now allows developers to create apps used within the chatting platform, and many startups in the Speedrun accelerator are exploring this opportunity. Lu argues that leveraging Discord for game distribution could help developers stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

Video GamesAIDiscord