2024-08-24 09:58:52
How can AI revolutionize the gaming industry?
Companies around the world are still trying to figure out how to integrate artificial intelligence into their business models, and for some industries, such as music and comics, the AI boom is already threatening businesses, due to copyright issues.
However, there is one sector where the benefits of the AI boom are apparent, which is the gaming sector, according to an article published by the British newspaper “Financial Times”.
A global race in AI
The report indicates that AI has played a role in the gaming industry long before the recent frenzy, as early as 2020, Sony’s technology was already used to create an AI client capable of beating the best drivers in the world in Gran Turismo on PlayStation.
But the AI that is being added to the latest games today will have a more direct impact on the bottom lines of gaming companies, leading to a reduction in the massive budgets that were historically required to develop each new game, according to the newspaper.
Players want high-quality, ultra-realistic graphics and immersive gameplay experiences. This requires significant time and resources, along with budgets in the millions for game developers and creators.
That has been the case until now. Chinese gaming companies have led their global peers in using AI tools to significantly streamline game development.
- Tencent, the largest gaming group in China, has used generative AI technology that helps game developers quickly generate animations and create realistic 3D backgrounds and scenes for games.
- Other AI tools are also used for decision-making to test game development, simulate gameplay, and create tasks and game scenarios.
- The second-largest group in the country, NetEase, has also begun using generative AI to enhance game development through planning, design, and coding functions.
This means more time for game developers to focus on game storylines, character development, dialogue, and setting details—the aspects that cannot be professionally handled by AI.
It is also expected to allow faster and cheaper game releases. This, in turn, means more game releases annually, reducing the risk of losses from a single failure, while also limiting the need to rely on a few older titles for revenue.
To date, the $40 billion gaming sector in China is having a good year. Tencent continues to profit from its game Dungeon & Fighter Mobile, which retains its position as the highest-grossing game in China.
Tencent’s shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange have risen by more than a quarter this year, easily outpacing the benchmark Hang Seng Index. The increase supported by AI will be good news for both investors and the gaming industry, according to the report.
AI to add $1 trillion to the global economy by 2030
Unprecedented revolution
In an interview with “Sky News Arabia Economy,” management science and IT consultant at G&K, Asem Jalal, stated that AI is driving an unprecedented revolution in the gaming industry, reshaping how games are developed and how players experience them.
Jalal explained that AI helps accelerate game development processes and elevate graphic quality to unprecedented levels. He emphasized the role of AI in simulating realistic interactions, enhancing game realism, and creating more thrilling experiences.
He noted that AI enables the development of dynamic and evolving gameplay experiences, as it can generate new levels and characters that adapt to the player’s style in real-time, adding an element of surprise and excitement to every encounter.
Regarding customization, Jalal confirmed that AI allows for unique gameplay experiences for each player by analyzing their behaviors and preferences to provide content that aligns with their specific interests, thus increasing enjoyment and ensuring a balanced challenge.
Jalal also addressed AI’s impact on gaming economics, pointing out its role in managing economic systems within the gaming industry, enhancing marketing strategies, as well as its vital role in detecting and preventing cheating in multiplayer games.
In conclusion, Jalal affirmed that AI represents a transformative force in gaming, predicting more amazing developments in the future that will lead to more immersive, interactive, and personalized gaming experiences.
UAE ranks third globally for AI specialists
Gaming industry
For his part, technology development expert Hisham Al-Natoor emphasized that AI is infiltrating all aspects of our lives, from the simplest tools to the most complex, and its profound impact on the gaming industry cannot be overlooked.
He explained in exclusive statements to “Sky News Arabia Economy” that AI effectively contributes to a revolution in this industry through several main axes; it generates new content, including unique characters, branching stories, and dynamic gameplay levels, making the gaming experience more personalized for each player. It also enhances player experience by analyzing behavior to provide customized challenges, increasing the depth and enjoyment of the game.
Al-Natoor indicated that AI plays a vital role in developing visual and audio assets, expediting the design process and reducing time and effort. Additionally, it can improve game performance by optimizing game engine efficiency, allowing for more complex games to run on less powerful devices.
He stressed that AI ensures the quality of games by detecting errors and enhancing the quality of the final product, and it also contributes to developing more realistic non-playable characters (NPCs), enhancing the game’s realism and interactivity.
Furthermore, AI allows for a personalized gameplay experience for each player by generating interactive stories that align with their preferences, broadening the audience through multilingual support. This is in addition to its role in improving game development processes by analyzing player performance and providing new tools for game design.
In closing, Al-Natoor pointed out that the evolution of AI promises further innovations in the gaming industry, especially with advances in technologies like virtual reality. He affirmed that many Arab countries have begun to invest significantly in this field, heralding a promising future for this industry in the region.