AI Storms Content: From Manga to Games – Outlook for 2026

In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) became a powerful force reshaping the content industry. From emerging formats such as AI manga (AI漫剧) to traditional sectors such as games, AI is having a growing influence, opening up new opportunities and posing new challenges for companies.

AI manga, a new content format that grew out of short videos, has relied on AI from the start. The format, which blends elements of comics and anime, is often called "AI manga" to stress its dependence on AI technology. Without AI, it probably would not exist. The platform Douyin reported significant growth in the popularity of AI manga, and forecasts point to further market expansion to 20 billion yuan in 2025, more than a third of the traditional film industry.

While AI's impact on short videos exceeded expectations, its effect on the games industry has been less radical than first assumed. Many previously expected AI-native games (AI原生游戏) that would revolutionize development and offer players unprecedented freedom and randomness. By the end of 2025, however, AI remained mainly an efficiency tool rather than a driver of fundamental change. Even so, the number of games on Steam that use generative AI keeps growing, which points to potential for further development.

According to experts, in 2025 AI reached every stage of game development. Major game companies are actively exploring ways to use AI to streamline processes and create new content. In particular, AI is used to produce graphics, audio and game localization. Although AI-native games built from scratch with AI have not yet become widespread, the industry is waiting for a breakthrough that could change the games industry.

In 2026, AI manga is expected to keep growing and developing. Both the volume and the quality of content are expected to increase, and popular AI manga titles should emerge that attract a broad audience. AI manga will also likely move into the international market, as short videos did. AI lowers costs and barriers to entry, which makes AI manga appealing to a global audience.

In the games industry, AI will continue to play an important role in streamlining development and creating new content. AI-native games built with AI are expected to become more common, but that will take time and further technological progress. Overall, AI will continue to have a significant impact on the content industry in 2026, opening up new opportunities and posing new challenges for companies.