Artificial Intelligence: The Hidden Power that is Revolutionizing Video Games
The Magic Behind the Screen
AI in video games is not new, but its capabilities have reached unprecedented levels. Non-playable characters (NPCs) are no longer simple obstacles that get in the way; They are now complex entities that react, interact and evolve in real time. In titles like The Last of Us Part II, enemies use advanced combat tactics and work as a team to ambush the player, creating an immersive and challenging experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats.
AI is also behind the procedural generation systems that create vast and unique worlds in each game. Games like Minecraft and No Man's Sky use advanced algorithms to generate landscapes, creatures, and structures, ensuring no two experiences are the same. This not only expands exploration possibilities, but also encourages player creativity and curiosity.
Current Video Games That Use Artificial Intelligence Prominently
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the video game industry, offering more immersive, realistic and personalized experiences. Below are some of the current video games that stand out for their innovative use of AI:
1. The Last of Us Part II
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release date: 2020
Use of AI: In The Last of Us Part II, AI is used to create incredibly realistic and tactically astute enemies. Enemy NPCs can communicate with each other, coordinate attacks, and adapt to the player's tactics in real time. This not only makes combat more challenging, but also adds a layer of emotional depth, as enemies react convincingly to the deaths of their companions and changes in the environment.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Games
Release date: 2018
Use of AI: Red Dead Redemption 2 is known for its incredibly detailed open world and realistic NPCs. AI is used to manage the daily routine of NPCs, who have their own schedules, personalities, and reactions to the player's actions. The animals in the game also display natural behaviors, such as hunting, grazing, and reacting to danger, which adds an extra layer of realism to the game environment.
3. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Developer: Monolith Productions
Release date: 2014
Use of AI: The Nemesis system is an innovative feature of Shadow of Mordor that allows enemies to remember the player and their previous interactions. Orcs and uruks can survive encounters with the player, remember those encounters, and adapt to them, developing unique personalities and rivalries. This system creates a dynamic, personalized narrative that evolves with each play.
4. Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Release date: 2017
Use of AI: Horizon Zero Dawn presents a post-apocalyptic world filled with machines that imitate the behavior of real animals. These machines have patrol routines, coordinated attack reactions, and behaviors specific to their "species." AI is also used to create a game environment where human NPCs interact with each other and the player in a coherent and compelling way.
5. Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Release date: 2020
Use of AI: Despite its initial problems, Cyberpunk 2077 stands out for its AI in several aspects. NPCs have daily routines and complex reactions to the player's actions. Enemy AI enables advanced and adaptive combat tactics, and AI-controlled vehicles can navigate the city realistically, avoiding obstacles and respecting traffic rules.
6. Alien: Isolation
Developer: Creative Assembly
Release date: 2014
Use of AI: The xenomorph AI in Alien: Isolation is one of the most notable in the horror genre. The xenomorph learns from the player's actions and adapts the player's behavior to make hunting more effective. He does not follow predictable patterns, which creates a tense and frightening gameplay experience, as the player never knows exactly how and when he will be attacked.
7. Watch Dogs: Legion
Developer: Ubisoft
Release date: 2020
Using AI: Watch Dogs: Legion allows players to recruit almost any NPC in London to join their cause, and each one has unique AI-generated abilities and characteristics. The AI also manages the reactions of the city and its inhabitants to the player's actions, creating a dynamic and ever-changing open world.
Smarter Players, Bigger Challenges
One of the areas where AI is making a significant impact is in the personalization of the gaming experience. The AI can analyze player behavior and adjust the game's difficulty in real time, offering a balanced challenge that keeps you interested without becoming frustrating. In Left 4 Dead, the "AI Director" modifies the intensity of game events based on the player's performance and emotional state, ensuring a dynamic and exciting experience in every match.
Additionally, games are beginning to use AI to create adversaries that learn and adapt to the player's tactics. In titles like Shadow of Mordor, the Nemesis system allows enemies to remember previous encounters with the player, develop rivalries, and become stronger with each confrontation. This not only adds a layer of narrative depth, but also offers a level of challenge that evolves along with the player.
AI and the Creation of Immersive Worlds
AI is revolutionizing the way virtual worlds are created and perceived. Game environments are more interactive and realistic than ever thanks to artificial intelligence. Characters can have daily routines, responding to changes in the environment and to the player's actions in ways that were previously unimaginable. In games like Red Dead Redemption 2, NPCs live their lives autonomously, interacting with the environment and each other in a way that makes the game world feel alive and authentic.
The Future of Video Games and AI
The future of AI in video games promises to be even more exciting. With the advancement of technologies such as deep learning and neural networks, games of the future could offer hyper-personalized experiences, where each player's decision influences the development of the story and the game world. Imagine an RPG where each character you encounter has a unique personality and a story that evolves based on your interactions.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Despite exciting advances, the integration of AI into video games also poses ethical and technical challenges. Creating such realistic NPCs and virtual worlds can blur the line between reality and fiction, raising questions about addiction and escapism. Furthermore, the collection and analysis of player data by AI systems requires careful management to protect the privacy and rights of users.
The video game industry must address these challenges responsibly, ensuring that technological innovation is used to improve the gaming experience in an ethical and sustainable way.
Conclusion: The Dawn of a New Era
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we play, creating more immersive, challenging and personalized experiences. We are on the brink of a new era in which video games will not only be an escape from reality, but an extension of our imagination and creativity. AI is not just a tool; It is the soul of the future of video games, a force that will transform the way we interact with digital worlds and each other.
As Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario, once said: "Video games are a door to another world." Thanks to AI, that door is more open than ever, inviting us to explore, dream and create without limits.
References
https://www.datacenters.com/news/the-power-of-artificial-intelligence-in-game-development
https://elearningindustry.com/the-future-of-gaming-is-ai-how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-everything
