Blizzard plans using AI to enhance game development

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Popular game development company Blizzard is now using Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated concept art for their video games characters outfits, levels, etc. and plans on further expanding AI elements into different sections of game development.

According to NY Times, an email sent to Blizzard employees last month by the company’s chief design officer Allen Adham says that the company is on the brink of a major evolution in how they build and manage games.

As on now only the concept art is being used, but the company plans on using AI for in-game NPCs, level design and also use it to monitor toxicity in video games.

The AI NPC part sound quite similar to the move from Chinese game development company NetEase who also announced a new upcoming MMO mobile game that will be using ChatGPT like AI bot to make the NPCs inside the game more intractable and lifelike.

China approves Microsoft-Activision Blizzard’s $69 billion deal

In a recent development, the Chinese government has also approved Activision Blizzard acquisition by Microsoft which might trigger further collabs between the gaming companies. Expressing their gratitude, Activision Blizzard have said that they will be committed to the Chinese gaming market.

Expressing delight on the approval, a spokesperson from Activision Blizzard wrote, “We’re glad to see China join dozens of other major countries in welcoming more competition in the gaming industry.”

“SAMR has unconditionally approved our merger with Microsoft, using facts and data to reach the correct conclusion. We are committed to the Chinese market, with many of our amazing players and employees based there, and we look forward to bringing them new choices and benefits as part of this deal,” they added.

The toxicity control also sounds similar to Microsoft’s move to use AI to monitor toxicity in online games. Recently, Microsoft claimed that they saw over 400% increase in punishment for toxic players. While AI is not always perfect, it certainly simplifies the detection work.

Though it is important to note that Activision previously partnered with Caltech to develop an AI to combat toxic behaviour in Call of Duty games. The current talks about fighting toxicity by Blizzard may very well make use of that when it’s ready.

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