While still in its early days, generative AI has already begun to change the gaming landscape. Today, that means early implementations of AI NPCs, procedural content generation, and a new era of tools for building and managing games and player communities, among other things. But this is only the first flush of a gaming future that’s hard to fully wrap our heads around.
Yet, as exciting as limitless possibilities sound, they also present a whole new set of challenges to tackle. Let’s explore both edges of this particular sword.
As generative AI capabilities accelerate, the frontiers of what’s possible in gaming will expand exponentially. We’re not just talking about dynamic narratives that adapt to player actions – the core gameplay mechanics and rules themselves could fluidly adapt and evolve based on player behaviors, and AI characters may soon improvise tactics and decisions that surprise even the developers. An early indication of this is AI NPC mods for games like Skyrim. Streamers CodeMiko and GingasVR make full use of such mods for their streams.
Developers are using today’s AI tools to build assets and in-game experiences. While this must be recognized as a fraught issue in many creative communities, for justifiable reasons, the trend toward AI-generated games is difficult to deny, potentially moving gaming into a very different world where game developers set parameters, build narratives, and become curators for a nearly infinite set of player-driven experiences, much like the holodeck from Star Trek. As AI systems advance to become true creative collaborators with human designers, the meeting of machine intelligence and human creativity may bring about entirely new genres and gameplay concepts we can’t yet imagine.
An interesting example of how AI can empower players in this way is the Roblox Assistant, which allows creators to quickly and simply bring their ideas to life.
These developments could even realize the long-promised concept of the metaverse – massive virtual worlds that continue evolving autonomously with their own AI-driven communities, stories, and economies whether players are present or not. The boundaries of crafting transportive alternate realities will be blown wide open.
Yet while all this may seem exciting from the big-picture view, it’s important to consider the implications and potential challenges, which carry with them uncertainty and even fear of just how different the future could be. Which jobs and skill sets will be replaced in the coming years is an open question, and the copyright debate continues to rage.
At Mijiba, we think the best implementations of AI are those that make the existing and time-consuming work of game developers a lot easier, freeing them up to focus on being creative and making great games. We believe generative AI is at its best when it is minimizing the busy work, and maximizing the creative process.
Developers, especially those in smaller teams or working solo, face the constant challenge of building and then managing their games, often wearing many hats, from marketing to customer support, community management, and more.
A key part of this work is engaging with your community—a critical yet time-consuming task. If your players feel that their voice is being heard, they are less likely to churn out of the game.
Enter FanCraft by Mijiba, an implementation of generative AI in the gaming industry that makes life definitively easier for even the most overwhelmed and overworked game developer. FanCraft responds naturally to player feedback, adapting over time to take on a voice that is unique to each game. FanCraft not only streamlines review management but also offers a way of engaging in a meaningful way with players, without the major time commitment, ensuring that each response feels personal and genuine, reflective of the developer’s intent.
By using FanCraft, developers can more effectively manage their workload, dedicating more energy to creative aspects of game development while maintaining robust communication with their players. It represents a step forward in how developers interact with their communities, offering them the freedom to focus on creative expansion without losing touch with their audience.
We’re entering an era where the boundaries of creativity and interaction are being redefined. The possibilities are as exciting as they are daunting.
At Mijiba, we believe that today’s AI is best used to enhance, not replace, the human element in game development. By streamlining repetitive tasks and fostering deeper player engagement through tools like FanCraft, we empower developers to focus on the creative aspects that truly matter—crafting unique, memorable experiences that resonate on a human level.
The human element is, and will remain, the essence of great games—human ingenuity and connection. Let’s move forward with a mindful approach to innovation, embracing the exciting possibilities of AI with an awareness of its impact on society and the industry alike.
Click the button below to learn more about FanCraft, by Mijiba.
