How AI is Revolutionizing the Gaming Industry?

| Updated on September 24, 2024

You know, hundreds of video games get released every year. Some are shooters, some are filled with puzzles, and some would have you exploring dungeons. But the main part is that they are a great way to pass time and have fun.

Video games have been getting a lot better over the years, be it in complexity, graphics, story, you name it, they have come a long way over the years.

But, now they are becoming smarter and more dynamic too. Also, learn about Why Online Games Dominate the Gaming Industry by reading this article.

And this is all thanks to the alchemy known as artificial intelligence.

From classics like “Tennis for Two” and “Spacewar” to fully dynamic games like “Detroit: Become Human” and “Dying Light 2”, we will take a look at how AI is bringing change to the gaming industry.

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So, What Does AI in Gaming Really Mean?

When you think of AI in video games, people would imagine that one dumb NPC would keep repeating the same line no matter what you do. 

Well, that was how it used to be in the past though…

Video games have gotten a lot better thanks to new-generation AI models and a bit of programming magic.

Now, your interactions have become much more dynamic.

AI NPCs in Video Games

Just take a look at GTA V for example, the AI NPCs would look both ways when crossing the streets, make comments on your character’s clothing, and they’ll curse at you when you drive too close to them too.

AI in games basically helps create a dynamic experience for each player, so no matter what your play style, the world will react to your actions in the game.

So, if you like looting, cops will be more aware of you, you like saving people, your reputation and interactions in towns and cities will give you some boosts, etc.

As AI is getting more advanced, you might even see AI NPCs becoming fully aware, as The Blue Shirt Guy (Ryan Reynolds) from Free Guy did.

But Why Do You Need AI in Gaming in the First Place?

You know, the basic concept of video games is having fun and game devs want you to give you the most dynamic gaming experience. AI can make it so that every interaction you make is different and each gaming session will give you something new to interact with.

And that’s not all, games are not just played on tabletop PC and consoles anymore, with VR and AR tech becoming mainstream, gamers want a much more interactive experience from their games.

DID YOU KNOW?
According to global tech news, the market size of AI in the gaming industry is supposed to grow by USD 4.50 billion at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 24.65 % from 2023 to 2028. 

How is AI Used in the Gaming Industry?

Every video game out there is built differently, from art styles to game mechanics, they each have something that is unique to each of them. 

From the force powers and double jumps of Cal Kestis from Star Wars Jedi to Titanfall 2’s time shift mechanic, there are a ton of different ways to use AI in video games.

Here are some of the ways AI is used in the gaming industry:

Procedural Generation in Games

The video games of today have huge complex mechanics for gameplay, with vast open worlds with tons of elements for you to explore and interact with.

But, it’s not that easy to create and render these massive worlds with so many interactive and dynamic elements.

With AI, developers can create diverse and dynamic gameplay levels and mechanics that enhance the interactivity and uniqueness of the game by a ton.

NPC Reactions and Interactions

In the old games, how you could interact with NPC and how they’d behave was pretty much limited.

Developers had to hard code it in the system if they wanted to make the NPC interactions feel real.

But thanks to AI, How NPCs can behave and react has changed a lot.

Just take a look at Cyberpunk 2077… The NPCs in this game all have dynamic reactions and they each interact in different ways.

Plus, you have seen how NPCs and cab drivers always follow that fixed route, AI can also help in automating these customer service tasks.

Plus with day and night cycles and dynamic responses, you will feel like you’re really in a bustling futuristic city full of people.

Adjusting the Game Level

Some games are pretty much impossible to beat. 

We all know the pain of not being able to beat a boss after multiple tries.

For example, I almost quit playing Gears 5 because of how hard it was to kill the Matriarch in Act 2, Chapter 5 Mission.

And trust me, I was not the only one who had a hard time with this level too.

With AI game devs can adjust the level of difficulty to make the experience more fun.

This can especially come in handy in multiplayer games where if you get matched with pros or a ranker, it’s pretty much a death sentence for you.

What are the Different Types of AI You Can Find In Video Games?

Video games all use AI for different functions and mechanics to give the players a seamless and unique gameplay experience. Here are the different types of AI you can find in games.

  1. Rule-Based AI
    It is used to program different behaviors and reactions of NPC characters. For example in Tomb Raider, every time you kill an enemy guard stealthily, the remaining one becomes more alert or panicky.
  2. Finite State Machines
    You know how NPCs switch between states one moment they’ll be going around like nothing and the next they’ll be all flustered.
    This is all thanks to FSMs. FSMs allow devs to code different behaviors in a single NPC depending on different trigger actions from the players.
  3. Pathfinding AI
    This is how your NPCs see and navigate the world inside your games. It is an algorithm that calculates the shortest path to the destination and tells the NPC how to avoid obstacles in its path.
  4. Behavior Trees
    Have you ever seen an NPC change the way it behaves in a split second, yes, a behavior tree helps Developers dictate how an NPC will behave and stimuli will trigger that behavior.
    For example, if you ever see signs of problem gambling you try to change, video game NPCs work the same way.
According to the Unity Gaming Report 2024, more than 62% of developers are using AI or related

According to the Unity Gaming Report 2024, more than 62% of developers are using AI or related tools during game production, and a major portion of these devs lean more toward generative AI tech.

Conclusion

Yup, AI has been a part of video games for years now and it plays a pretty integral part in making our beloved games so interactive, engaging, and fun. 

It gives games the dynamicity and uniqueness that we’ve all come to expect from them. From helping with improving gameplay mechanics to helping render new levels and handling all tasks, AI has been making many changes to the world of gaming as we know it.




Vaibhav Krishna

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