AI-Powered NPCs: How Artificial Intelligence is Making Games More Realistic
Throughout the years, we have seen the gaming industry benefit from the power of major technological advancements, all of which have greatly revolutionized the way that gamers around the globe experience and interact with their favorite games.
The launch of the internet first revolutionized gaming by allowing online multiplayer gaming, paving the way for digital distribution, and supporting a global community of gamers. It has also led to newer gaming genres, and fueled the rise of esports, entirely shifting how games are developed and played.
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With over 1.3 billion global gamers, the gaming industry is consistently innovating to retain and grow this already large user base, with one example being the rise of implementing artificial intelligence to focus on improving non-player characters or NPCs.
In recent years, with the internet making it possible, the implementation of artificial intelligence in gaming has further enriched the experiences of gamers. This technology has fueled the creation of highly realistic non-player characters (NPCs), making gaming highly interactive and immersive.
Gone are the days when NPCs were limited to the same repetitive actions and dialogue. The highly realistic non-player characters in games today are integral to shaping and refining the gaming experience. With this groundbreaking development, the gaming industry is all set to enter a new era.
This article will explore all you need to know about AI-powered NPCs, broken down into the following subtopics:
Traditional NPCs vs. AI-Powered NPCs
Artificial Intelligence in Gaming
Understanding Natural Language Processing
Understanding Machine Learning
The Future of AI-Powered NPCs in Gaming
Traditional NPCs vs. AI-Powered NPCs
NPCs refer to non-player characters. Traditionally, these were the characters you would see roaming around in the background of your game’s levels, but you were unable to control them. And the interactions with them were either none or very limited.
This is because NPCs of the past were programmed to carry out a limited number of predetermined roles and responses based on actions you carry out with them. For example, when you attacked other racers in Road Rash, they would strike you back.
The rise of artificial intelligence in gaming gradually gave birth to AI-powered NPCs. AI-powered NPCs are non-player characters that use artificial intelligence to move beyond basic scripted interactions and create dynamic, responsive, and engaging behaviors, marking the next level of interactivity and immersion in gaming.
There are various examples of AI-based realistic nonplayer characters, all playing a great role in adding to the story or the overall richness of the game. Some of the most notable types and examples include:
- Secondary main characters that shape the game’s plot and even help the main character in certain missions, such as PEA in Cygnus Enterprises.
- Regular unnamed characters with such detailed and entertaining routines add to the game’s richness, an example being NPCs in Red Dead Redemption 2.
AI-powered NPCs have the capability to look, respond, and act in a whole new manner, thanks to the support of notable AI technologies, that will be explored next.
Artificial Intelligence in Gaming – The Technologies Enabling the Creation of AI-Powered NPCs
Before we go on exploring how applying artificial intelligence in gaming has helped create realistic non-player characters, it would help to understand the multiple subsets of AI that support different aspects of the process. Most notably these include:
- Natural Language Processing
- Machine Learning
- Generative AI
Let’s take a look at each of them in further detail.
· Understanding Natural Language Processing
Natural language processing is a subset of AI that enables computers or systems to understand, analyze, and respond to human language using human language. With natural language processing, devices can understand, interpret, and respond to human queries naturally using text or speech.
Natural language processing technology combines the power of statistical modeling, machine learning, and deep learning with computational linguistics. This technology paved the way for generative AI technologies such as large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and image generation models like Adobe Firefly by enabling them to communicate, analyze queries, and respond accurately.
· Understanding Machine Learning
Machine learning is an artificial intelligence subset technology that enables digital devices or systems to perform tasks independently while learning and adapting for improved future performance, both based on using the data provided.
Machine learning algorithms are trained to analyze new and historical data extensively to identify trends, patterns, or relationships that may emerge. Using this data allows machine learning algorithms to sort and organize information, make relevant predictions, and also assist with content generation.
read more : The Silent Threat: When AI Doesn’t Know Your Business Exists
· Understanding Generative AI
Generative AI is a subset of artificial intelligence that analyzes data to generate new content such as text, images, videos, or audio.
The technology pairs machine learning algorithms with a creative and human-like thinking process to identify patterns and generate data based on those patterns, resulting in the creation of original, dynamic, and realistic content that is constantly evolving and adapting to changing environments.
Providing some examples of generative AI, that you may or may not have interacted with, would help you grasp the concept better. Some notable examples of this technology include:
- ChatGPT: a widely popular tool that uses generative AI to deliver realistic, human-like responses to a diverse range of user queries.
- Midjourney: one of the best tools for graphic designers. The tool uses generative AI to analyze the user’s requirements and provide images that deliver the needs mentioned within.
- Eleven Labs: one of the most popular generative AI tools for audio creation. Allows creating new sounds or customizing pre-made sounds.
- Runway: a highly renowned AI-powered video creation tool that allows users to generate, edit, and transform videos and images with features like text-to-video generation, image-to-video, and video-to-video editing.
All these subsets of artificial intelligence have collectively transformed traditional NPCs into the AI-powered NPCs we know and enjoy today. The next section will explore the upgraded features of AI-powered NPCs that AI has made possible.
Features of AI-Powered NPCs – How Artificial Intelligence in Gaming Has Leveled Up NPCs
The use of AI to improve NPCs paves the way for more immersive and interactive experiences in gaming. This section explores some of the ways AI-powered NPCs are a level up on traditional NPCs.
- Highly Realistic Non-Player Characters
Remember when we used to play games in which NPCs seemed like they had edges and were limited to a repeated set of pre-programmed phrases and actions regardless of what we used to say or do? Time to say goodbye to those!
AI-powered NPCs act as far more intelligent in-game characters compared to their predecessors. They can respond dynamically to the game’s environment as well as the user’s speech and actions, making the NPCs more humanlike, engaging, and unpredictable.
These highly realistic non-player characters can accurately analyze player actions to realistically change their mannerisms, responses, and actions based on what the player does. This kicks the level of realism in the game up a notch and improves the overall experience.
- More Adaptive NPC behavior
Did you know that AI-powered NPCs now have a mind of their own and can make independent decisions? This makes their role much more significant than before.
They can now make independent decisions, adapt their behavior based on changing circumstances in the game, and also perform newer tasks, previously limited to players.
Through this increased level of decision-making, AI-powered NPCs are much more realistic and engaging and open the doors for gamers to enjoy newer possibilities such as additional subplots and side quests.
- Increased Player Interactions with AI Characters
The increased intelligence packed into AI-powered NPCs can open doors to numerous engaging and entertaining opportunities for gamers to enjoy, for example using them being leveraging them to improve, accompany, and take the plot of the game forward.
They can be used as secret advisors offering secrets, the focus of side quests to help players achieve higher credibility or strength in the game, and even as friends or foes players can make while progressing through the game in real time.
The potential NPCs hold in developing the plot of a game cannot be overstated. Through this increased role, players can benefit from an engaging and rich storyline and gameplay experience.
The Future of AI-Powered NPCs in Gaming
AI-powered NPCs have been welcomed with open arms by gamers all across the globe, particularly in the United States. In fact, a staggering 81% of American gamers are willing to pay more for a game with advanced AI-powered NPCs, according to a survey undertaken by Inworld AI.
The growing availability of new technologies and AI platforms, the widespread availability of the Internet, and the boom in preference for AI-powered NPCs make it essential for gaming studios, large or small, across the globe to experiment with the power of AI.
Doing so will allow them to tap into the full potential that NPCs can offer, from a more engaging, realistic, and challenging gameplay experience to a rich game plot, multiple subplots, and quests.
The studios that leverage the potential of AI-powered NPCs early on will see huge advantages, however, it is contingent on constant innovation to ensure they’re creating even more interactive NPCs, those that that match the accuracy of real-life.
