How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping the Future of Game Development

It seems like not a day goes by when artificial intelligence (AI) isn't making headlines. Ever since OpenAI introduced the world to ChatGPT in 2022, the public has had a seemingly endless appetite for stories about this new technology. While AI was at work long before AI-powered chatbots went mainstream, most lay people had no need to become well versed in the technology. Today, AI is reshaping how industries do business, and the gaming world is at the forefront of using this technology to make games better. 

When it comes to game development, AI allows developers to create virtual worlds that are more dynamic, immersive, and personalized than ever before. From non-player characters (NPCs) to automatically generating entire game worlds, AI has changed the way that games are developed and made the entire process faster - and it's just getting started. Keep reading to learn about how AI will shape the future of gaming. 

AI in iGaming

We can't talk about gaming without talking about the iGaming sector, which has taken off in recent years due to improvements in technology and the popularity of online gaming in general. iGaming is the term used to describe all types of casino games, like poker, that have transitioned from the physical to the online world. Online casinos have embraced AI, using it to personalize user experiences and provide them with customized content. 

When a person logs onto one of these platforms, machine algorithms are at work in the background, analyzing their behavior and using the information to tailor recommendations to them. If the AI algorithm notices a person has reviewed poker tutorials, the next page displayed might be a page about poker hands, giving the user an opportunity to learn about topics like a full house, straight flush, and three-of-a-kind. The player might not even notice that these recommendations are based on their activity on the platform, but receiving information relevant to their interests could help boost their engagement. 

Procedural Content Generation

Procedural content generation (PCG) is one of the most important ways game development has benefited from AI. What was once a time-intensive manual task for developers can now be done in seconds with PCG. Game developers no longer have to design every part of a game. Instead, they can employ PCG to make massive, diverse landscapes that change regularly, making each gaming session unique. 

When talking about PCG, games like Minecraft and No Man's Land often dominate the conversation. That's because these titles have almost perfected the use of PCG to create expansive, explorable worlds that are constantly adapting. There's a good chance you know someone who's been playing Minecraft for years. PCG's constantly changing environments are one of the main reasons why they never get bored with the game. Since PCG automates content generation, it gives developers more time to spend on creative tasks and complex design elements that enrich the overall gaming experience. 

AI-Driven NPCs

For players, one of the most noticeable improvements in gaming in recent years has been more lifelike and intelligent NPCs. Not long ago, NPCs basically just took up space in a game but didn't offer much to the gameplay. These characters followed scripted dialogues, and players could often predict what they'd do next. AI-driven NPCs have changed all that by allowing players to learn from their actions and adapt to them in real time. These advanced NPCs make game interactions more dynamic and the narratives richer.

In a game like The Witcher 3, the AI-powered NPCs react to a player's choices, and how their behavior and responses are based on in-game events. In that way, NPCs really feel like they're part of the game, having their own set of motivations and emotions that add depth to the experience. 

AI in Game Testing and Development Efficiency

Games don't come out of the studio in perfect condition and ready to play. They have to undergo hours of testing before they're ready for primetime. Once upon a time, game studios had to hire people to test games for bugs and quality assurance, which often delayed a game's release. AI has allowed them to automate this process, identifying glitches and performance issues more efficiently than human testers and cutting down on development time.