Generative AI

News about AI services and models, as well as case studies on the use of generative artificial intelligence in video game development.

Activision Blizzard has given the green light for employing generative AI tools such as Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to create concept art and marketing materials, according to a recent Wired investigation. The news outlet acquired an internal memo from the company's former chief technology officer, Michael Vance, which sanctioned the use of these AI tools. Although Vance stepped down from his CTO position in January 2024, he remains with Activision as a fellow software engineer. A former employee revealed that the company assured its artists that the generative AI would be utilized exclusively for internal concepts and not for final game assets, emphasizing that AI would not be used to replace them
GiantX, a prominent name in the gaming and esports sector, has finalized the acquisition of AI esports coaching start-up iTero Gaming. The financial specifics remain confidential, but the deal is described as being worth "multi-million dollars." Following this acquisition, iTero's founder, Jack J. Williams, who established the company in 2022, has been named the head of gaming technology at GiantX
The SAG-AFTRA National Board has unanimously decided to allow its lead negotiator to initiate an immediate strike at their discretion to safeguard voice actors' job security amid growing interest in generative AI by studios. In a statement, SAG-AFTRA, which represents over 160,000 professionals including actors, broadcast journalists, news writers, recording artists, and voiceover artists, indicated that, should a strike be called, it would encompass all services covered under the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA). "All SAG-AFTRA members will cease rendering all services and performing all work covered by the IMA," the statement read. While negotiations continue regarding the Interactive Media Agreement, the union asserts that there remains a significant gap in reaching terms related to essential AI protections for video game performers
Artificial Agency, a startup located in Edmonton, has secured $16 million to advance its "AI-powered behavior engine." The funding round saw participation from Radical Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Flying Fish, Kaya, BDC Deep Tech, and Tirta Ventures. After operating in stealth mode for a year, the company has revealed its activities, stating it is collaborating closely with several prominent AAA studios. The engine is expected to be accessible to all studios by 2025
Microsoft has given up its non-voting observer position on OpenAI’s board. Keith Dolliver, Microsoft's deputy general counsel, is said to have communicated to OpenAI earlier this week, indicating that Microsoft's presence on the newly-established board was "no longer necessary" because of the "significant progress" OpenAI has achieved. Microsoft took on a non-voting role in November following the temporary ousting and subsequent reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman
The creative industry is currently contending with the implications of generative AI technology. The recent advancements in the ability of computer algorithms to produce imagery, audio, and text mark a significant transformation. This development not only challenges the philosophical notion of creativity, traditionally seen as a unique human trait, but also introduces new opportunities for productivity. However, it raises substantial concerns about the viability of creative careers and businesses. As debates intensify, many individuals remain uncertain about which stance to adopt, balancing both optimism and apprehension towards this emerging technology
Nintendo acknowledges that generative AI is a prominent topic and could spur technological advancements, but the company intends to provide a distinct value that isn't solely reliant on technology. During a recent Q&A session with investors, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa expressed caution about ongoing intellectual property issues related to AI. He emphasized his belief in the company's extensive experience in crafting top-notch gaming experiences. "AI-like technology has long been a part of controlling enemy character movements in the gaming industry," Furukawa noted, as translated by Tweak Town, highlighting the long-standing relationship between game development and AI technology
Two innovations that are poised to transform game creation and gameplay are cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The cloud, which is not a new technology, has seen entire firms like Improbable emerge to assist developers in ambitious projects by shifting the processing load from gaming hardware to large-scale server farms. Microsoft has also delved into this area; for instance, some AI companions in Titanfall were managed by Azure servers as early as 2014. On the other hand, AI has been making waves in the news due to bold assertions about its potential
Bitmagic, a generative AI platform, secured $4 million in seed funding in a round spearheaded by Korea Investment Partners. The company also introduced its platform on Steam Playtest, allowing users to develop 3D games using text and speech commands. Additional investors in this round include Supercell, Sisu Game Ventures, and several angel investors such as Zak Phelps, former senior director of product for Fortnite Creative, and Maarten de Koning, partner at Digital Development Management
Roblox is actively developing technology to allow users to generate characters and objects via "4D generative AI". According to a recent blog update, this new AI will emphasize interactivity in the creation of people, objects, and environments. These innovative tools aim to enhance the dynamism of 3D objects by utilizing generative AI text or voice prompts, such as creating a drivable race car
For King, the potential of AI to enhance and accelerate game development is not a novel concept. The creator of Candy Crush has been leveraging and exploring machine learning and AI technology for over five years, predating its acquisition of the Swedish AI software company Peltarion in 2022. King's AI Labs, a substantial division managed by Sahar Asadi, has already integrated AI tools into its workflow, specifically in games like Candy Crush. One such tool has significantly influenced the development process of the popular mobile game
Artificial intelligence has permeated nearly every sector, including the gaming industry. The advent of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney might overshadow the fact that AI has been shaping development processes since at least the 1980s. Tommy Thompson, director of the consultancy AI and Games, stated during a panel in the GI Sprint series about accelerating game development that there is a widespread belief that AI is a novel concept in the gaming sector. Contrary to this perception, the idea that AI is threatening jobs only now is inaccurate. Thompson, who collaborates with developers to incorporate AI into their development processes, has observed this "silent revolution" since the late 2000s when machine learning started being integrated into workflows. AI, a branch of computer science with origins in the 1950s, has been benefiting the gaming industry for decades
Astrocade AI has secured $12 million in seed funding. This capital injection will support the development of its generative AI social gaming platform, now in closed alpha, allowing users to create and modify games. The investment came from AME Cloud Ventures, NVIDIA Ventures, and the Venture Reality Fund
The use of artificial intelligence in game development continues to cause heated debate. This time, Champions TCG studio participated in them. She stated that the artwork for her collectible NFT card game Champions of Otherworldly was made using neural networks. They were created by an "AI artist" alone, to whom she paid tens of thousands of dollars.
In mid-February, OpenAI introduced a new generative network that is capable of generating very high-quality video by text format. It's called Sora. We talked about its prospects in the gaming industry with teams that have already implemented other neural networks into their pipeline. Our experts include representatives of Charisma, Playkot, Lost Lore, Skywaylab and ZiMAD.
Last month, OpenAI unveiled its new text-to-video model Sora, causing a stir among professionals and casual users alike. Although it is yet to be released publicly, we decided to discuss whether it can be used in game development, as well as its potential pitfalls and limitations, with experts from ZiMAD, Skywaylab, Playkot, Lost Lore, and Charisma.
Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts (EA), told the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom conference that his company is actively developing generative artificial intelligence technologies. EA hopes that with their help it will be possible to speed up game development and increase performance.