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Nobuo Uematsu, the composer behind some of gaming’s most beloved soundtracks, recently sat down with JASRAC Magazine to discuss his career, the growth of video game music, and where the industry might be headed next.
During the interview, Uematsu made his position clear on one of the music industry’s hottest topics: generative AI. “I’ve never used AI and probably never will,” he stated. The composer explained that he finds more satisfaction in the creative struggle of making music himself. “I think it still feels more rewarding to go through the hardships of creating something myself,” he said.
Uematsu believes that part of what makes music special is the story behind its creator, something AI simply doesn’t have. He also pointed to the human element in performances, noting that “music produced by people is unstable, and everyone does it in their own unique way.” According to Uematsu, these imperfections and variations are what make music truly satisfying to listen to.
The composer reflected on how far game music has come since his early days. In the NES era, he was limited to just a melody line, chord line, and bass line. As technology improved, musicians gained the ability to add samples, layer sounds, and create richer audio. But Uematsu suggests that game music may have already hit its peak. “I feel like it already reached its ‘final form’ when musicians became able to use their studio recordings in games,” he explained.
He pointed to binaural audio as another major step forward, which was already featured in Final Fantasy X. Looking ahead, Uematsu thinks future improvements might focus on smoother transitions between different sounds—an area where AI could potentially play a role.
Despite these thoughts on the industry’s evolution, Uematsu shows no signs of slowing down. The self-taught musician, who built his career through dedication and hard work, is currently working on new original songs with a full album on the way. He also has multiple live performances scheduled for 2025 and plans to work overseas in the following year. “I think this is the busiest I’ve ever been,” he joked, adding that staying active keeps him feeling alive.
