Microsoft is making a big bet on artificial intelligence (AI) for the future of game development. The company believes that AI can be used to automate many tasks that are done by humans, like game development, testing, and localization. This could free up game developers to focus on more creative work, and it could also lead to the creation of new and innovative games by people who may not be as well-versed in programming.
A recent speech by Xbox CFO Tim Stuart at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit (Thanks Techraptor) expressed his excitement about AI. Like the shift from discs and consoles to online games and games-as-a-service like Fortnite and Minecraft, AI represents an important shift for Microsoft.
Stuart described some of the specific ways that AI can be used to improve game development. For example, AI can be used to generate scripts, quests, dialogue trees, and other game content. This could save game developers a lot of time and money, and it could also lead to more natural-sounding and engaging dialogue.
“You now say ‘I need the player to get from A to B’ and instead of having to write thousands of lines of scripting or code, you just have the AI get you from A to B. Things like localization and putting things in new languages.”
Tim Stuart
AI can also be used to test games, find bugs, and localize games in different languages. This could help to ensure that games are released in a high-quality state and make games more accessible to a wider range of players. Speaking of accessibility, it can give someone the ability to make games that didn’t spend hours learning how to code.
“Anyone in this room to be a game developer… The barista at your local Starbucks has an awesome idea for a game and they can now use Copilot and AI to go create a great mobile experience.”
Tim Stuart
The argument can always be made that AI used in this way could destroy jobs, but I’ve never believed that. Try using any kind of AI for writing and tell me how easy it is to form consistent and coherent sentences that are factual. AI is a tool at this point, and like Grammarly or WordTune, it’s only as good as the person using it.
In addition to investing in AI for game development, Microsoft is also acquiring game companies that could make use of AI. For example, Microsoft recently acquired Activision Blizzard, which could really benefit from using AI in basic code and playtesting.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard will also give Microsoft access to a wealth of intellectual property (IP), that can get more people into AI-powered games. Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush are likely to get more of a chance than a brand-new franchise. These IPs will no doubt be valuable to Microsoft as it develops new AI-powered games and experiences.
The company believes that AI has the potential to revolutionize the way games are developed and played. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft uses AI to create new gaming experiences. Hopefully, this is a way to make better games, not make games faster.
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