The Growing Impact of AI on the World of Gaming

The video game world has never been bigger than it is now, and the same goes for artificial intelligence (AI). It was not going to be long before the two intersected. In fact, AI in video games has been around since 1951 with a title called Bertie and the Brain. It wouldn’t compare to modern gaming expectations, especially since perceptions around AI have shifted, too. So, what does AI in gaming look like today, and what will its long-lasting impacts be?

AI-Powered Non-Player Characters (NPCs) 

NPCs in video games, or the characters around the world that the player cannot control, are carefully crafted fixtures in the digital universe. Writers spend ages scripting dialogue and reactions to character actions. What if they didn’t, and instead, a generative AI helped build the environment? This is a real possibility, and gamers have mixed feelings about it.

An AI could allow NPCs to portray a wider array of emotions and responses, making the environment more dynamic and realistic. NPCs could respond organically to player interactions without feeling stilted. They wouldn’t cycle through the same five lines — there could be infinite possibilities. However, some people find charm and comfort in the script, knowing everything there is to know about a world. Plus, gamers may feel unsettled knowing writers were replaced with AI NPCs.

Some gamers feel NPC interactions leave a lot to be desired. Sometimes, developers don’t have enough time to dedicate to building every character with equal depth. Therefore, some characters say the same few words over and over again. AI could supplement human efforts to make worlds more immersive, instead of having moments where gamers laugh about how flat the conversations are in an open-world game.

AI in Game Design and Development 

The same controversies enter discourse when discussing game development. Humans want people behind the games they play — not an AI. At the 2024 Game Awards, a preview for a game called “Catly” was shown on the big screen. It received mixed reception immediately because it appeared to be AI. The developers denied these claims, but the reputation was already scarred because of the public’s perception.

But, an AI could help with streamlining and refinement. It could be used as an enhancer to the design process instead of a blatant overuse. However, the future will include both sides of the coin. AI could automate tasks like designing levels relying on procedural generation, docking up prototypes for characters or drafting ideas for assets. While an AI has this potential, it is important to remember — people come first. If AI starts replacing development jobs, then gamers will riot.

A more appropriate use the gaming community would accept is asking AI to assist in troubleshooting or playtesting. It could find issues for human developers to fix or predict imbalances in gameplay. These backend tasks only make the outcome better, whereas creating art crosses a fine line. AI is imperfect, so humans would still be a part of this process, but scanning thousands of lines of code for imperfections is something an AI would happily do.

The implication here is that generative AI, particularly, could democratize game development. It has already become easier than ever to make a video game, with the countless number of tutorials and free or inexpensive software available. However, smaller teams could take on more ambitious projects with AI assistants, providing better experiences for players when employed ethically. 

An AI could also analyze gaming trends to inform developers of their decisions. What art styles are popular, and how are people enjoying certain types of control schemes? An AI could tell someone these things by scraping online data stores.

AI for Enhanced Gaming Experiences 

Video games are not just a fun hobby — they can better the brain by being therapeutic or increasing gray matter in the brain. An AI could amplify the best parts of a video game, making them more helpful, fun and valuable for everyone. 

An AI could make gaming everything from more accessible to more enjoyable. Consider how an AI could transform a game immediately into a new language or alter its visuals to be accessible to those with colorblindness. These are some of the most practical applications, but what about gameplay?

Ask an AI to make an enemy more challenging, and it could do that. Some developers suggest this could improve retention rates for video games. This feature could be employed as part of the game instead of something used on the backend. You could ask an AI to alter the sound quality to include more bass when you want to feel immersed in your gaming headphones. 

It can also change environments in real time, which would be helpful for games like MMOs. If the game operates on a 24-hour clock, then there could be real weather patterns and crowd behaviors that shift around the world that are unique to this game.

AI in Esports and Competitive Gaming 

The competitive gaming scene may only get more intense as AI enters the landscape. An AI coach could be the reason someone improves their aim or movement. Based on player metrics, the AI could identify weak points and areas for improvement, especially in team dynamics when transparency and communication are so important. 

An AI could also be a virtual referee, discovering suspicious or bot-like activity in competitive environments. They could help establish a precedent of fair play and spot cheating as it’s happening. It could spot weird mouse movement or erratic behaviors a human would not do based on the video game’s scope, giving competitions better oversight.

Is AI in Gaming the Future?

People have used the phrase AI in video games for awhile, but mostly to describe preprogrammed computerized enemies. Now, it encompasses so much more. But, do gamers want that? The future of AI in gaming will be a delicate balance for gaming companies to strike with players, as their reception of AI incorporation will vary based on the application. The only thing gamers know for certain is that companies will try everything, so anticipate a video game on shelves in the future with every flavor of AI built into it.