- The gaming industry is to become worth $665.77 Billion by 2030, according to Fortune Business Insights.
- AI and ML technologies can largely contribute to the growth and development of this industry.
The gaming industry has transformed from being just a source of entertainment for players to presenting them with real monetary opportunities. Gaming studios have also developed business models that consider the company’s revenue but are more user-centric. The tough competition and rising awareness among players call for studios to develop games that will not only attract players during launch but also retain them. Companies are achieving this by investing in advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies to deliver personalized content to users.
Integrating AI and ML Into The Games
The games generally use the scenario of another world or fantasy lands to attract users and retain them by taking them forward in the storyline. This calls for designing several in-game objects, sceneries, songs, and many others, which if done manually would be costly and time-consuming. Studios depend on AI to produce the nearly infinite world and game assets, all with a different artistic touch, fast and cheap. Before the launch of the game, companies carry out several test runs to understand its impression on players and identify any possible bugs. Previously, this was accomplished by calling professional gamers who would spend hours playing games. Now, this can be done through AI which can play the game in all the possible scenarios, at different difficulty levels, and provide suggestions as it proceeds. It can also identify any possible bug issues and alert the developers.
As players become familiar with the game, they are no longer interested in a monotonous setting, features, and difficulty. Companies can use AI and ML to learn user patterns, behaviors, and the present difficulty level of the game. They can adjust the game difficulty, which is neither boring nor frustrating for the players.
The database of players, containing their interaction with the fantasy world and other players, can give valuable insights into the nature of players. Through ML, their future behavior and gaming patterns can be interpreted and the studio can land the players in the part of the world most admired by them. The users will no doubt spend a long time and love this personal touch.
Although the studios spend enough time and dollars to secure their games and prevent any potential cases of hacks, still the events of online cheating and account hacking are well-known. Companies can now track any compromised account through AI and warn them. Also, ML can learn the change in user behavior compared to the previous data and keep a watch on the particular player for any potential malicious activity.
Companies largely generate revenue by selling in-game assets like exclusive clothing, weapons, and features. They can depend on AI to recommend these assets to the players and prompt them to buy. The product recommendations can be optimized by analyzing their preferred taste and choice.
Games continuously develop and launch new levels, rules, and features to keep their users engaged. This can often turn out confusing for players, and they may require assistance. New players may also need help in familiarizing themselves with the game environment and rules. AI-powered chatbots can help here by guiding players throughout the game and providing tips. They can be designed to understand human language and respond to user prompts.
Final Thoughts
The present games come with non-player characters (NPCs) that have become more realistic and intelligent, owing to AI and ML. They can be both a friendly companion or a deadly opponent to the players. The future of games lies in incorporating them with VR and AR technologies, providing an even enhanced, three-dimensional, and realistic experience to the players.
