Machine learning and artificial intelligence are transforming almost every industry, from banking to healthcare. Recent developments in machine learning have also conquered the gaming industry. For instance, game developers have achieved impressive results in making video games appear more realistic by building AI agents that act as opponents or co-players.
Even though these advancements are still in their infancy, we can already note their presence in our favorite video games. In this article, we will explore the implications of machine learning in gaming and list its benefits for video game producers and players.
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are transforming almost every industry, from banking to healthcare. Recent developments in machine learning have also conquered the gaming industry. For instance, game developers have achieved impressive results in making video games appear more realistic by building AI agents that act as opponents or co-players.
Even though these advancements are still in their infancy, we can already note their presence in our favorite video games. In this article, we will explore the implications of machine learning in gaming and list its benefits for video game producers and players.
The gaming market was valued at $198.4 billion in 2021, which is more than the music, film, and television industries combined. Moreover, the industry is expected to more than double in the coming five years, which paves the way for more technologies to permeate and improve the gaming experience.
Today, AI and machine learning in games can be observed in all stages of game development. Crafting a video game is as laborious and resource-intensive as shooting a movie or an animated picture. Therefore, machine learning can save game engineers time and energy while at the same time offering a unique user experience to players.
There are currently two key areas machine learning assists in game development:
Below we list more specific uses of machine learning models in both categories.
If you’re a gamer, you most probably know that there are certain characters in a video game that you cannot control. These are actually pre-scripted NPCs (non-playable characters) that are programmed by game developers to compete against players in the game.
Machine learning technologies play a significant role in developing the algorithms of NPCs that allow these fictional foes to appear as human as possible. These foes can also adjust their difficulty level as you progress into the game or based on your skill level. The models that develop these NPCs learn from human behavior, action, and playing methods, after which they are trained to improve their own.
A myriad of games utilizes ML models to develop NPCs. Here are a few examples:
Visuals play an essential role in any video game. Video game designers spend a lot of time and energy to make the games look appealing and aesthetic. Most games do look beautiful, but when you zoom into some specific objects, the picture is actually pixelated and poorly rendered.
Machine learning tools help game designers get rid of this problem. For instance, Microsoft has recently paired up with Nvidia to create computer vision algorithms that tackle visual rendering issues. In real life, when you see an object from afar, it may look blurry, but as you get closer, you may start noticing more details about it. Microsoft and Nvidia have built a model that renders and enhances images to look more lifelike.
Another area where AI and machine learning assist game programmers is making the interactions inside the game appear more realistic. For instance, many video games already include pre-scripted NPCs that you can converse with. However, their responses are limited in scope and usually follow pop-up prompts on the screen.
With the help of natural language processing, programmers have developed NPCs that engage in realistic conversations, similar to Siri or Alexa. For instance, in a video game called Red Dead Redemption 2 by Rockstar Games, the player can communicate with NPCs and receive realistic responses within the game’s scope.
Unfortunately, video games, especially popular ones, can be vulnerable to hackers. These hackers can develop strategies to hack the code of the game and use it to gain special advantages called cheats. For example, the mega-popular Grand Theft Auto (GTA) video game faced this issue during early release when players would apply cheat codes to unlock extra features.
As a result, developers have created special ML algorithms that help video game companies prevent these hacks and data breaches. These models thoroughly analyze the player’s behavior over time and send warnings if they detect suspicious activity.
Thanks to machine learning, gaming is becoming more immersive and realistic. Developers integrate different ML models to predict the effects of a player’s actions and program game events beyond the player’s control, such as weather.
A great example of these models is being adopted by FIFA. Once you collect a team of players, the soccer simulation video game calculates the chemistry between all players based on their real-life performance and tells you how they will get along together. The algorithm also adjusts the team morale when you make mistakes or when the audience cheers.
Finally, with the help of machine learning and data science, it is now possible to keep a record of each player’s game and predict their next activity. Video game companies can use this information to send personalized offers, messages, and game recommendations. At the same time, players will appreciate a more customized approach, and most of them will be happy to invest in similar games or try out new ones.
As we can see, artificial intelligence and machine learning form a considerable part of video game development nowadays. That said, here’s a recap of the benefits of machine learning for video game companies and players.
Machine learning in gaming provides the following advantages to developers:
Similarly, the integration of machine learning in video games offers the following benefits to gamers:
In conclusion, AI and ML are key driving factors in the video game industry. Nowadays, most games incorporate machine learning models to some degree. This helps developers save time while creating more engaging video game attributes. As a result, players enjoy a more authentic gaming experience.
