Capcom plans to improve its proprietary RE Engine by incorporating artificial intelligence to boost efficiency in quality assurance, debugging, and data processing

Resident Evil Requiem — Image credit: Capcom

Capcom has unveiled ambitious plans to transform its RE Engine into an AI-enhanced tool, aiming to make game development more efficient and effective. This pivot towards an AI-enriched development engine marks a significant evolution from its initial creation in 2014, which was notably used for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, released in 2017. Over 2,000 developers are currently leveraging this technology, as noted by Eurogamer.

In a recent presentation at Capcom's tech conference, programmer Satoshi Ishida discussed the 'REX Project', which seeks to further enhance the capabilities of the RE Engine. Reported by IGN and sourced from GameBiz, Ishida detailed how these advancements would streamline processes, improve QA, enable ease of use for both new and international staff, and integrate AI throughout game development.

The introduction of various systems such as RE:Dox for data processing, RE:UI for toolset development, and RE:Log for ID-based logging, signifies a comprehensive upgrade to the current architecture. Additional innovations include the visual tool RE:Flows, the updated execution core RE:Runtime, and an enhanced framework known as RE:C++.

Ishida emphasized that the incorporation of AI aims to make coding more intuitive, facilitate automated playtesting, and ultimately improve game performance. With the goal of evolving the engine into an "AI-generation game engine," the project hopes to foster collaboration between developers and AI technologies.

While some advancements will be open-sourced to bolster AI training, Capcom earlier made it clear, as stated on GamesIndustry.biz, that these AI elements will not be used as generative assets in their games. Instead, AI is seen as a tool to enhance workflow efficiency across graphics, sound, and programming departments.

These developments come after Resident Evil Requiem was showcased in a presentation of Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology, which faced scrutiny for using AI to modify character visuals such as main character Grace Ashcroft.