Generative AI in Video Game Development
While artificial intelligence (AI) generative models capable of creating ultra-realistic virtual characters and worlds could lead to better and cheaper video games in the future, this emerging technology has put artists and developers on edge.
“Generative AI is used more in commercial video game development than people think,” said Mike Cook, a video game designer and computer science lecturer at King’s College London. “It’s primarily used for tasks like voice acting, illustrations, or programming assistance.”
The end-user typically doesn’t perceive these uses of AI, Cook added.
AI Usage in Video Games: A Closer Look
A study by the US-based startup Totally Human Media revealed that nearly 20% of titles available this year through the Steam distribution platform disclosed the use of generative AI during their development.
This accounts for thousands of games released over the years, including popular titles like “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” and life simulation game “Inzoi.”
AI growth should enable studios to “merge multiple job roles into one” with the help of these tools, according to AI consultant Davy Chadwicj. He predicted a “30-40% increase” in developers’ production.
The progress has been rapid. The latest tools can generate 3D resources like characters or objects from a simple text prompt, which can then be directly integrated into the game world.
“Previously, creating a high-quality 3D model would take two weeks and cost $1,000,” said Ethan Hu, founder of California-based startup Meshy.ai, claiming over five million users.
“Now it takes a minute and costs only $2,” Hu added.
High Stakes in the Industry
Industry heavyweights have approached generative AI from various angles: Electronic Arts partnered with startup Stability AI, while Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, is developing its own model called “Muse.”
With the global video game industry valued at nearly $190 billion in revenue by 2025, according to data firm Newzoo, there’s a lot at stake and the potential rewards are high.
Demanding Players
Some sector members already fear that refusing to use generative AI tools will, in practice, mean they can’t compete.
“We’ll have to ask ourselves if we’ll use them in our next game,” said the director of a French studio “personally against” AI models and who recently completed a years-long project “without AI.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: How widely is generative AI used in video game development? According to a study by Totally Human Media, nearly 20% of titles available on Steam this year used generative AI during development.
- Q: What tasks does generative AI perform in video game development? Generative AI is primarily used for tasks like voice acting, illustrations, or programming assistance.
- Q: How has generative AI impacted the video game development process? Generative AI can rapidly create high-quality 3D models, reducing time and cost previously required for this task.
- Q: What are the concerns of video game developers regarding AI? Developers fear job losses due to increased reliance on AI for tasks traditionally performed by humans, and the chaotic nature of AI-generated 3D models.
- Q: How do players feel about AI in video games? Some players value human creative work and criticize the use of AI-generated content, as seen in the backlash against “The Alters” for its undisclosed AI-generated text.
