The role of generative AI in video game development

Generative AI offers exciting new ways for video game developers to create engaging content, realistic visuals, and immersive gameplay experiences. In this article, we explore how generative AI can enhance and accelerate game development with some examples.

What can we do with generative AI?

Let's break down some of the key elements of game development and see how generative AI can accelerate the process.

• Procedural generation. By leveraging algorithms to create vast, complex, and unpredictable environments, games have the potential to deliver unique and dynamic experiences in each gameplay session.
• Terrain generation. Generative AI helps generate realistic terrain, increasing the visual appeal of your game world.
• Automatic modeling. Generative AI streamlines the creation of 3D models of characters and other elements, reducing the time and expertise required.
• Speech synthesis. Developers can use AI to create diverse and realistic voiceovers for their characters.
• Audio modification. Generative AI provides an easy way to modify voice recordings to create diverse voices for characters with limited resources.
• Generative music. Thanks to generative AI, you can automatically create a game's musical score, and even create a dynamic score that changes based on in-game events, increasing the emotional impact of your game. You can increase it.
• sound effects. Generative AI can also be used to generate realistic sound effects to support immersion and realism in the game world.
• ambient soundscape. Immersive ambient soundscapes that enhance the atmosphere of your game can be created using generative AI.
• Dialogue generation. Generative AI can also write realistic dialogue for characters.
• A generation of individuality. Generative AI can create unique and consistent character personalities that enrich storytelling.
• Dynamic storytelling. Generative AI also allows for a non-linear storyline that adapts based on player choices. This helps create a more personalized gaming experience.
• Automatic generation of quests. You can also use generative AI to automatically create quests and missions that align with your game's overall narrative.

No wonder Assassin's Creed developer Jade Raymond said the introduction of AI in big-budget game development is “inevitable” due to its ability to reduce costs and speed up game development. .

video game testing

Another way generative AI adds value to video games is in-game testing and quality assurance. First, generative AI allows you to automatically detect bugs and flaws in your game and rank them based on their priority and impact on the game. In addition, AI's predictive capabilities can analyze data to predict potential problems in games, allowing developers to proactively take action.

You can also use generative AI to create multiple simulated players (bots) to test your game. All players play in different ways according to the play style generated by the AI. This allows game developers to quickly understand where players are stuck, where players are most likely to spend money (in-game accessories), and what factors make the game experience less satisfying. Masu.

real example

Video game company Ninja Theory has reportedly used the Altered AI voice library to utilize generative AI to generate vocal performances. Meanwhile, Ubisoft, the developer of Assassin's Creed, uses its own in-house company called Ghostwriter to create “barks”, short phrases that NPCs speak when certain events are triggered. We have developed a generative AI tool. The idea is to automatically create a first draft of character dialogue (such as enemy dialogue in a fight scene) that the writer can choose from and polish as needed. By automating these small lines of dialogue (there can be hundreds in a game), screenwriters can focus their time on core plot dialogue instead.

The developers of Lords of the Fallen also experimented with generative AI during production. This technology was used to create his AI-generated voice for prototyping during the early stages of building the game, and the final dialogue was recorded by professional voice actors. This shows that generative AI can be a useful tool for speeding up prototyping, thereby allowing new projects to start faster.

Generative AI will not replace the human creativity, imagination, and artistry that is essential to developing new video games, but it is clear that it will be a valuable tool for developers. Generative AI represents a major advance in video game development by helping to speed up game development and reduce the costs associated with bringing new games to market.