The gaming industry has long been at the forefront of technological advancements, with developers pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in a remarkable transformation of the gaming industry in recent years, and AI continues redefining the way we interact with and perceive video games.
AI is not new; Alan Turing published “Computer Machinery and Intelligence” in 1950.
However, AI technology has come on in leaps and bounds, and today, it plays a significant role in many aspects of our lives.
Many Washington websites use AI to suggest further reading for visitors. Have you ever ordered an item from Amazon and received a message stating, “Other customers also bought product X.”
That is AI at play, too. Although AI is everywhere, the video game industry is embracing machines the most as it looks to create immersive, interactive worlds for gamers.
Article Contents
Personalized Gaming Experiences
One of the most significant advancements in AI technology stems from video game developers wanting to create a personalized gaming experience.
Although almost every modern video game title comes with several difficulty levels, those difficulties are static, and players’ skills vary, so finding the optimal difficulty is challenging.
By employing complex AI algorithms, the game can analyze player behavior, preference, and skill levels and dynamically adapt gameplay elements.
AI can make things easier if a player struggles at a particular section. Conversely, if a player progresses through a level too easily and quickly, AI can ramp up the difficulty to create new challenges.
Valve Corporation‘s epic zombie title, “Left 4 Dead,” famously used AI. Known as “The Director,” this AI alters the game’s pacing, difficulty, enemy spawn points, enemy numbers, and even visual and audible elements based on the player’s current situation.
The result is no two games are ever the same, leading to increased longevity and a unique experience every time. A similar AI system was in place for Turtle Rock Studios’ “Left 4 Dead” clone “Back 4 Blood.”
Procedural Content Generation
AI-driven procedural content generation is reshaping the way developers create games.
Previously, human designers were relied on to create every aspect of a video game, from locations to non-player characters.
Today, AI is used to procedurally generate this content while the user plays the game.
“No Man’s Sky” by Hello Games is a shining example of AI-driver procedural content creation.
The space exploration game’s universe is procedurally generated, allowing for a rich and diverse world.
The game boats over 18 quintillion potential planets, each with unique fauna and flora generated as the player approaches them.
More recently, Bethesda’s “Starfield,” another space exploration title, utilizes procedural content generation to create landscapes and areas of interest as the player approaches the plant.
Such tools allow human designers to focus on other game elements, such as animation or various story arcs, providing a more fulfilling experience for gamers.
Increasing Realistic Non-Player Characters (NPCs)
AI is elevating the realism of Non-Player Characters (NPC) behavior in video games.
In older titles, particularly those featured in Role-Playing Games (RPGs), NPCs often felt wooden through a lack of emotions.
Their dialogue followed a set path, or they only behaved a certain way, making them feel like an afterthought.
Thanks to advancements in AI, NPCs in some video games have become iconic characters who influence how the game progresses.
NPCs display more complex emotions, have learning capabilities, and can make decisions that alter the game’s direction.
Although Bethesda’s “Skyrim” is over a decade old, its NPCs featured some basic AI. NPCs react differently to the player depending on their actions in other areas of the game’s map.
They can become hostile if the player has harmed another NPC in a village or avoid selling goods and wares if they align with a particular clan.
Famously and humorously, killing a chicken results in the entire town seeking revenge and retribution against the player!
More recent titles, such as “Grand Theft Auto V” and “Cyberpunk 2077,” use highly complex AI for their NPCs.
The NPCs react to the environment around them, like running for cover if there is a car crash, standing around and watching when an ambulance arrives at the aid of a stricken character, and causing other NPCs to run away if they see a drawn weapon or hear gunshots. Little touches like those add another layer of immersion to the players’ experience.
Adaptive AI Opponents
Thanks to AI, the days of predictable and heavily scripted AI opponents are a thing of the past.
Learning the moves and counterattacks of AI-powered opponents in older video games was possible, leading to a repetitive experience.
Modern gaming AI adapts to player strategies by learning from their moves and evolving.
For example, a player may favor a particular attack that has worked wonders in the game’s early stages, so the AI learns how to counteract this move, forcing the player to change their tactics.
Other advancements in adaptive AI opponents include those opponents developing tactics and strategies of their own.
They no longer run gung-ho into battle but seek cover to protect themselves from the player.
Some opponents will attempt to keep the player busy while other AI flanks them, with some enemies trying to destroy the player’s cover and expose them to attacks.
The end result is a more engaging, competitive, and realistic gaming experience.
Enhanced Graphics And Rendering
Through advanced techniques like machine learning-based upscaling, AI can enhance the visual fidelity of games, even if those games are played on less powerful hardware.
NVIDIA’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR are proven to improve image quality, performance, and optimization.
Both AI-powered tools can render games at a higher resolution on lower settings, opening the door to visually stunning worlds for players using more affordable hardware.
Conclusion
The integration of artificial intelligence into the gaming space goes beyond technological advancements. AI is overhauling and transforming the very fabric of games.
We can expect more groundbreaking innovations as AI continues its evolution. Expect deeply personalized gaming narratives combined with unparalleled levels of realism that blur the lines between reality and the virtual worlds we explore.
The future of gaming is bright and exciting, and we have AI to thank for that. The only limitations are developers’ imaginations; we cannot wait to see what the future holds.
