When we hear the phrase artificial intelligence or AI, many of us think of ChatGPT or Google Gemini, chatbots that promise to make us more efficient in our day-to-day lives. What many don’t realize is that AI is also an important part of video games, making it easier for developers to produce those titles that keep us coming back for more. From non-player characters (NPCs) that have become smarter to AI-driven procedural generation techniques that have made it possible for developers to create expansive worlds like those in No Man’s Sky and Minecraft, AI has benefited games in countless ways. In this article, we look at the different ways AI will change gaming in the coming years.
AI’s Role in Gaming Today
Online gaming seems to have taken over the gaming industry in the past few years. Casual and veteran gamers alike flock to online platforms to play a variety of titles. One of the most popular destinations is virtual casinos, where themed online slots are common. What many don’t realize as they spin the reels is that AI is analyzing their behavior. When a game recommendation that is an uncanny match for their tastes pops up, it’s not some random advertisement from the casino; it’s based on the conclusions AI has drawn about the player. The same goes for bonuses and promotions that a player might see as they play. In most online casinos, AI plays a big role in the offers a player gets.
It’s not just online casinos that are getting in on the AI fun; traditional video games are, too. When you look at today’s AAA video games and see an unbelievable level of realism that almost makes you feel like you’re in a movie, you have AI to thank for that. Developers use AI for all sorts of things, including designing characters that can adapt to your behaviors, making every interaction feel authentic and impossible to predict. If you’ve ever played Red Dead Redemption, you’re familiar with how this works. The game features NPCs that exhibit complex, human-like behavior, such as reacting to the time of day and your actions in the game. All of this helps make the game world feel alive and immersive.
AI-powered procedural content generation is another way AI has contributed to some of today’s most popular gaming titles. With procedural content generation, developers can create seemingly never-ending, diverse gaming universes without having to manually design every part of it. The universes with unique planets, ecosystems, and challenges found in No Man’s Sky are all generated using AI. If you’ve played this game, you know you never run out of things to explore. In a similar way, Minecraft uses AI-driven algorithms to create its diverse terrains and structures in a way that no two players’ worlds are the same.
Emerging Trends in AI-Powered Gaming
AI plays a significant role in personalizing the gaming experience. As the AI systems in a video game analyze a player’s skill level, preferences, and playstyle, the game makes adjustments to its difficulty level, paths, and challenges to ensure they have the best experience possible. One example is the AI Director in Left 4 Dead, which dynamically adjusts the game’s difficulty level based on how a player performs.
Today’s NPCs are no longer static characters that move in strange ways and stand out like a sore thumb. Instead, they’re highly developed and can learn and adapt based on their interactions with the player during the course of the game. Advancements in machine learning have made these adaptive NPCs a reality. These NPCs can develop unique behaviors and responses that lead to player-driven narratives and more immersive storytelling.
Advancements in AI have also made it possible for players to engage in realistic interactions and dialogues with in-game characters. Gone are the days when an in-game character spits out stilted, sometimes non-sensical lines. Today’s NPCs are able to converse with other in-game characters in an unscripted manner. As this technology continues to improve, we can expect NPCs to have even more depth, making conversations feel even more organic.
