AI in Game Development
Ongoing coverage on AI in Game Development.
Latest coverage
Kingdom Come: Deliverance director says DLSS 5 does right by KCD 2, 'people are crazy' for thinking it's…
Daniel Vávra, director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, defended the use of DLSS 5, stating that critics have "literally gone crazy" and that the technology helped realize the team's artistic vision by improving lighting and detail. However, some users on X argued against his point, with one stating it "oils up characters to the nth degree for muh realism." The article also touches on Warhorse Studios's previous controversy regarding AI replacing an editor.
Nvidia confirms its DLSS 5 AI filter won't just be limited to RTX 50 GPUs
Nvidia has confirmed that its new DLSS 5 AI rendering technology, which debuted with NBA 2K27, will be expanded to support GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs. While initially demanding significant performance even on high-end cards, the company aims to enhance graphics by adding lighting and material effects without compromising artistic vision, though concerns about 'AI slop' have emerged.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead says Nvidia DLSS 5 backlash is "really funny," and that "most talented…
Daniel Vávra, director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has defended Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology amidst player backlash, calling the controversy "really funny." He argues that AI tools are widely used by developers, including the most talented ones, to improve efficiency and cut down development time.
Petit Planet Gives Animal Crossing Its First Serious Rival in Years
miHoYo's upcoming life simulation game, Petit Planet, is shaping up to be a serious contender in the genre, drawing clear comparisons to Animal Crossing. The game features a human protagonist tasked with revitalizing planets populated by anthropomorphic animals, offering familiar mechanics like crafting and village building. While the demo showcased a polished experience, concerns linger regarding potential gacha mechanics and the use of AI in its development, despite assurances from HoYoverse.
Starsand Island's 1.0 update isn't going great amid claims of AI and lackluster multiplayer
The 1.0 update for the anime RPG Starsand Island has been met with predominantly negative Steam reviews, a sharp contrast to its previously positive reception during early access. Players are criticizing the update for lacking substantial new content, raising concerns about undisclosed AI usage and Tencent backing, and finding the multiplayer implementation to be poorly designed with progress only saving for the host. Developer Seed Sparkle Lab has denied claims of fake reviews but has yet to address the specific criticisms regarding AI and multiplayer.
Vibe Camp 2 Kicks Off in MapleStory Universe With a Short-and-Snappy Design Mandate
MapleStory Universe has launched Season 2 of its Vibe Camp program, focusing on the creation of short, engaging games using AI. Running from August 18 to September 15 on the MSU Space platform, the event challenges participants to design games that can be completed in one to two minutes, with a $15,000 prize pool in NXPC tokens available. This season introduces an AI Brainstorming Persona to assist creators in developing concepts and mechanics, furthering the goal of turning MapleStory into a creator ecosystem.
"I'm remaking all of Ocarina of Time's prerenders in 3D" - I'd play this dev's Zelda N64 romhack over the remake, and better still, "no GenAI was used for any part"
A fan developer named Reonu is creating a 3D remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's prerendered backgrounds, aiming to match the Nintendo 64 style rather than the 3DS version. This project, provisionally named 'OoT unJPEG', utilizes Blender and the Fast64 plugin and will be distributed as a ROM hack for the Nintendo 64 and a mod for Zelda 64 Recompiled, with the developer explicitly stating no AI was used in its creation.
Nexpace Sets Aug. 18 Launch for MapleStory Vibe Camp Season 2 With Verse8
Nexpace announced that the second season of MapleStory Vibe Camp will launch on August 18, in partnership with AI game creation platform Verse8. The first season distributed over $59,000 in prize money and saw creators develop hundreds of games using MapleStory IP and Verse8's AI tools. Nexpace aims to expand MapleStory from a closed IP into a programmable one through initiatives like Vibe Camp.
Kingdom Hearts 4's first new world is inspired by Pixar's Coco
Square Enix confirmed that the first new world in Kingdom Hearts 4 will be inspired by Pixar's Coco, featuring characters like Miguel and Héctor. The trailer showcased Sora teaming up with them in the Land of the Dead. Square Enix also denied claims of using AI-generated content for the Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 promotion, stating the assets were created by their development team.
Azuki Opens Its IP to Remixing Inside Verse8’s AI Game Builder
Azuki's intellectual property is now officially registered and remixable within Verse8's AI-powered game creation platform. This integration, facilitated by Story's licensing layer, allows creators to use Azuki characters in new game environments, with revenue automatically split among creators, NFT holders, and IP owners. Verse8, which boasts a significant user base, aims to enable IP-native worldbuilding through this user-friendly, code-free approach.
Pitfall 2600 - A brilliant classic has been ported over to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive with the help of AI
A fan-made port of the classic Atari 2600 game Pitfall! has been released for the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive. Developed by Paulo Manrique, the project utilizes AI to generate new 16-bit artwork and features while maintaining the original gameplay and collision detection. The creator, David Crane, also made the original game for Activision in 1982.
Help shape the future of PC Gamer and enter for a chance to win $200
PC Gamer is conducting an audience survey to gather insights for future content across its website, magazine, social media, and video platforms. Participants can win one of two $200 Amazon gift cards, with eligibility restricted to US and UK residents. The survey covers user opinions on PC Gamer's coverage, media consumption habits, trust in AI and content creators, and preferred gaming content types.
Make My MMO: Legends of Aria and The Guild are back, SpiritVale breaks 20K concurrent
This article provides an update on various crowdfunded MMORPGs, noting the return of Legends of Aria as Legends of Aria Eternal and the successful Kickstarter for The Guild movie. It also highlights SpiritVale's launch and its achievement of over 20,000 concurrent players, while mentioning other games like Book of Travels preparing to sunset and Stars Reach nearing early access.
Lara Croft can't catch a break: after delaying one Tomb Raider game, Amazon is delaying another and this one won't show up until 2028
Amazon has announced further delays for its Tomb Raider games, with Tomb Raider: Catalyst now slated for a 2028 release. The other title, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, has been pushed to February 2027. These delays come amidst other production issues, including the use of AI in development and a halt in filming for the live-action TV show.
Mario Kart Wii is being "rebuilt for PC," but the project's AI vibe coding instantly soured many Nintendo…
A fan project is rebuilding the Nintendo game Mario Kart Wii for PC, with a beta release planned for August. However, the project has faced backlash from parts of the community due to its use of AI for coding, a practice many developers are actively trying to avoid in favor of traditional methods.
Roblox will offer AI-generated game creation on mobile later this year
Roblox is set to introduce AI-generated game creation tools for mobile devices later this year. The platform will begin limited alpha testing for these new features later this month, expanding its development capabilities to a wider audience.
Roblox has been hit with another lawsuit in Oregon over grooming allegations
Roblox Corporation is facing a new lawsuit in Oregon alleging child grooming through its in-game chat features, with the plaintiff claiming her eight-year-old daughter was targeted by an older man. This follows similar lawsuits and investigations in other states concerning child safety and the alleged failure to protect minors on the platform, despite Roblox highlighting its implemented safety features and AI moderation.
YGG teams with Animoca’s Minds for $5,000 VibeBlitz Game Jam, starting today
YGG has launched its first VibeBlitz game jam in collaboration with Minds by Animoca Brands, running from July 13 to August 10. The event focuses on AI-assisted game creation, with participants competing for a $5,000 prize pool and potential entry into the Minds Investment Programme. Games must fit within a 32x32 plot, be browser-playable, and utilize the Game Designer Mind AI for at least 50% of development.
YGG Unveils vibecode.game Platform For AI Game Development
Yield Guild Games has launched vibecode.game, a new platform designed to enhance discoverability and community engagement for AI-powered browser games. The platform's debut is marked by the VibeBlitz game jam, a collaboration with Minds by Animoca Brands, offering $5,000 in prizes and running from July 13 to August 10. Animoca Brands also introduced its Game Designer Mind AI tool, which simplifies game concept creation from simple prompts.
The Gaming Industry Is Eating Itself Alive
Xbox is undergoing a massive restructuring, including 3,200 layoffs, impacting numerous studios and divisions like Activision, Bethesda, and Blizzard. While some studios regain independence and first-party projects remain safe for now, the article criticizes Xbox's overall strategy, citing Game Pass's performance and declining hardware revenue. The piece also touches on PlayStation's similar issues with digital ownership and preservation, painting a bleak picture for the future of gaming costs and ownership.
