New York Times: A.I. May Help Design Your Favorite Video Game Character

The New York Times covers advances in generative AI in game development

Back in May 2023, the New York Times wrote about some of the world's leading studios and technology companies in the games industry each pioneering AI in their own way.

Blizzard Entertainment, a studio division of Activision Blizzard, is diving deep into the potential of generative artificial intelligence (A.I.) for game design. By utilizing assets from popular titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, they're aiming to streamline the game design process, producing concept art at a pace unmatched by human designers.

The tool behind this innovation, internally called "Blizzard Diffusion", transforms text into art. As Allen Adham, Blizzard’s chief design officer, enthusiastically noted, “We are on the brink of a major evolution in how we build and manage our games.”

The technology behind tools like ChatGPT, generative A.I. identifies patterns in data to create new content. While there are concerns about the technology – from potential copyright infringements to job displacements – the gaming industry sees its immense value. With game development being labor-intensive and often facing delays, A.I. can speed up processes, with Ubisoft even creating a tool called Ghostwriter to produce game dialogues.

Next steps in AI across the game development process

Critics have expressed concerns about job threats, but Yves Jacquier of Ubisoft explains that artists and writers will always remain at the heart of game creation. While technology aids in the workflow, it's the human touch that defines the final product.

On a related note, Didimo, a leader in generative A.I., has powered the character generation for companies like Soleil Game Studios. Our technology has enabled the creation of hundreds of nonplayer characters, making game design more efficient and innovative.

In summary, the future of game development is being reshaped by generative A.I., streamlining processes and opening up new creative avenues. As the technology matures, its integration into the gaming world will only become more prominent.

For more on this subject, read the the full story here.