Ubisoft and Tencent have taken further steps to integrate AI into content creation, leveraging Ace, NVIDIA’s AI technology tool.
The announcement was made at Les 2024 by the computer manufacturer itself, highlighting the adoption of Ace by prominent industry players such as NetEase, Genshin Impact developer MiHoYo, and others.
Ace, unveiled last year, empowers companies to craft AI-driven non-player characters (NPCs) and offers features like text-to-speech capabilities, facial animations, and in-game rendering.
While developers currently have access to certain aspects of the Ace tool, NVIDIA has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the data used for Ace’s training, citing complexity when pressed for details.
Purnendu Mukherjee, founder of partner studio Convai, emphasized how AI-generated characters in virtual realms unlock novel experiences and possibilities previously deemed unattainable.
Convai’s tools allow developers to swiftly evolve NPCs’ narratives and personalities, facilitating comprehensive character development within days.
Ubisoft has also unveiled its AI plans, introducing the Writer tool for NPC creation internally, incorporating insights from gaming writers to enhance character depth through AI-generated dialogues.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s AI tools, developed in collaboration with AI theater Inworld, aim to support Xbox developers in enhancing storytelling and mission design.
While these AI resources promise to streamline game development processes, concerns persist within the gaming community. Notably, Wizards of the Coast faced backlash for utilizing AI-generated content in promoting Magic: The Gathering.
Following community scrutiny, Wizards explicitly prohibited the use of AI-generated content in future projects due to concerns over fair compensation and the ethical use of AI in creative endeavors.
Acknowledging the need for revised contractor engagement practices, Wizards emphasized the importance of transparency regarding AI’s role in their creative workflows.
The gaming industry remains cautiously optimistic about the potential of generative AI to alleviate development challenges, with ongoing discussions on its ethical implications and impact on creative processes at events like GDC 2023.
