Game developers have been researching and developing new, enhanced, interactive, and realistic gaming experiences for players. And finally, users or players get a first-hand experience of the game.
The global gaming market, as of 2021, was valued at USD 229.16 billion, projected to grow to as high as 545.98 USD in 2028. These whopping figures have created opportunities for investors to pour money into the industry and earn the big bucks.
How has AI helped evolve the gaming industry?
Games have become realistic, interactive, responsive, and challenging with time. And that has been made possible by using Artificial Intelligence. The scope of Artificial Intelligence in gaming is not just limited to the presence of an AI character. It is more about creating a game that is interactive.
Artificial intelligence expanded its wings and added new success stories under its hood as it cruised through various sectors like health, education, eCommerce, etc., retouching them. It wouldn’t be fair for AI to forget the enthusiastic arena from where it took a giant leap—the gaming industry.
● The origins of the use of AI in gaming date to over seven decades, when in 1952, Arthur Samuel of IBM formulated the game Checkers. The program analyzed every move closely, decided which moves helped win the game, and incorporated those moves accordingly. The game was programmed such that the more it was played, the better it got.
● A decade ago, users paid attention to rich graphics in video games, but the scenario has changed of late, and players demand interactive games. By leveraging artificial intelligence for games, EA Sports took an initial step wherein its FIFA 2017 game, and an AI algorithm lifts your team’s morale through fan chants.
● In fact, on realizing the potential of AI in the gaming industry and the potential to yield miraculous benefits, Amadeus Capital Partners and Passion Capital have seed funded a gaming company Prowlwer.io for its R&D in developing self-learning AI agents. It would typically mean that the game characters tend to learn from your inputs and change their behavior accordingly and swiftly. Incredible, right?
● Games like the infamous Pokemon leveraged augmented reality, which is again based on artificial intelligence, to add a new layer to the real-world scenario to navigate and chase the character. Also, AI is fast catching up in casinos and online gambling. It eliminates the pre-scripted scenarios, and the environment would be real/spontaneous.
● The bond between artificial intelligence and gaming is so strong that simulation games based on AI train even astronauts before they go beyond the horizons to walk in space. Notably, the Station Space Walk Game by NASA is also based on AI that helps astronauts experience the space station before they reach space. The game is also open to the public.
Artificial intelligence algorithms are stored and used by NPCs or non-player characters who act intelligently in the games and play just like a regular human player does.
So, artificial intelligence in gaming provides a responsive and interactive video game experience via these NPCs.
Where AI in Gaming stands now?
The use of artificial intelligence in gaming has advanced significantly, and it continues to do so. Let us look at the future capabilities of AI in gaming.
- AI-enhanced cloud-based gaming
- Blockchain-Based Gaming
- Voice or Audio Recognition-Based Games
- Wearable Support Gaming and VR Gaming
What features of AI have created hype in the gaming industry?
- Enhances a player’s gaming experience
- AI algorithms govern the player’s decisions through the gaming process
- It helps game developers extract data about players’ behavior
- Reduces the probability of cheating
Conclusion
AI in gaming will evolve and provide players with more challenging and engaging user experiences. Given its potential to yield higher benefits, many companies are coming forward and investing heavily in blending AI and the gaming industry.