Generative AI
Ongoing coverage on Generative AI.
Latest coverage
SEGA faces backlash as Sonic the Hedgehog ARG sneakily asks for consent to train gen-AI on your data
Sega is facing backlash for its Sonic the Hedgehog alternate reality game, 'The Chaos Hunt,' which was discovered to be training AI models on participant data without clear consent. The marketing campaign, designed to celebrate the series' 35th anniversary, required users to agree to terms that allowed a marketing company, Community, to use their data for AI model training. This has sparked negative reactions from fans concerned about the increasing integration of AI in marketing.
Microsoft (MSFT) and OpenAI are being sued by nearly 400 newspapers
Nearly 400 newspapers have filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, alleging that their generative AI products have scraped copyrighted content without permission or compensation. The suit claims that Microsoft "secretly crawled" websites, including paywalled content, to train AI models. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously stated the company would cover legal costs for copyright infringement claims, and this lawsuit follows similar actions by authors and publishers against AI companies.
Well, that explains the expensive Steam Machine: Valve can't negotiate with RAM companies for better prices because "if we say no, then they never talk to us again"
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that the high price of the Steam Machine is due to RAM manufacturers refusing to negotiate, leaving Valve with limited options. This issue is exacerbated by generative AI companies consuming large amounts of RAM, driving up prices for all consumers and leading console manufacturers like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo to increase their own hardware prices.
Arnold Schwarzenegger AI Game is an Amazon Luna Exclusive
A new game starring Arnold Schwarzenegger has been announced as an exclusive title for Amazon Luna. Amazon also used the announcement to clarify its position on the use of generative artificial intelligence in game development.
"This crisis was avoidable, but our bosses chose to drive blindly towards disaster": French videogame union STJV call for national industry strike day
The French video game union STJV has called for a national strike on June 25th to protest ongoing layoffs and demand industry-wide changes. The union cited mismanagement by companies like Quantic Dream, Ubisoft, and Nacon, as well as government subsidies and the rise of generative AI, as contributing factors to the crisis.
"This is going to be a niche device" – Analysts react to the $1,000+ Steam Machine price reveal
Industry analysts are reacting to Valve's Steam Machine pricing, which starts at $1,049, significantly higher than initially anticipated. This increase is attributed to global component shortages, particularly memory and storage, exacerbated by the generative AI boom. Experts believe this high price point positions the Steam Machine as a niche product and raises questions about the future pricing of upcoming consoles from Sony and Microsoft, with some predicting they will also exceed $1,000.
Senior EA exec Laura Miele thinks AI has led to "a real rise of creativity" among the publisher's studios
Electronic Arts' president of enterprise development, Laura Miele, believes generative AI has fostered a significant increase in creativity within the company's studios by removing tedious tasks and streamlining workflows. Despite some employee concerns and ethical debates surrounding AI, major publishers like Sony Interactive Entertainment, Capcom, and Epic Games are also embracing AI tools to improve development efficiency.
EA are making another round of layoffs as they seek "to better meet fans’ changing needs", according to reports
Electronic Arts is reportedly conducting another round of layoffs across various departments, including recruitment, IT, and customer support, to "better meet fans’ changing needs." The exact number of affected employees is currently unknown, but the cuts include remote roles in the USA and staff in Hyderabad, India. This follows previous layoffs affecting the Skate developers Full Circle and the Battlefield 6 team earlier this year.
Unreal Engine senior director Sjoerd De Jong leaves Epic Games after almost 12 years
Sjoerd De Jong, Senior Director of Product for Unreal Engine at Epic Games, has departed after 12 years with the company and 27 years of involvement with the Unreal Engine. De Jong cited the industry being at a 'pivotal point' and the previous 'era has come to a close' as reasons for his resignation. His departure follows recent reveals of generative AI models being adapted into Unreal Engine.
Godot confirms it tolerates 'some AI assistance' but rejects 'vibe coded' tag
Godot, the free and open-source game engine, has clarified its policy on generative AI, stating it tolerates some AI assistance for tasks like translation and single-line code completion, but prohibits contributions made entirely by AI. Lead maintainer Rémi Verschelde emphasized that the engine is not 'vibe coded' and that human effort is prioritized for quality contributions, with a more detailed policy forthcoming.
CD Projekt boss warns that games made solely by gen AI are already being made
CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has warned that games developed entirely using generative AI are imminent, citing a studio founder who claims to be able to launch games within weeks. While acknowledging the potential for rapid prototyping, Nowakowski expressed doubts about the long-term viability and artistic merit of such titles, contrasting them with games possessing 'soul' and fresh ideas.
CD Projekt boss "knows for a fact" a surge of games made purely with generative AI are coming, but doubts "whether this is really the path to follow"
CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski believes games made purely with generative AI are inevitable but expresses doubts about this being the optimal development path. He suggests studios should focus on being 'lean and cheap' to navigate the increasingly competitive market, while acknowledging the potential of AI integration in tools like Unreal Engine 6.
The Real Reason Modern Games Take So Long to Make
Modern AAA games take longer to develop due to escalating ambition, player expectations, and increased complexity in asset creation and quality assurance, despite advancements in development tools. Studios like Remedy Entertainment, Insomniac Games, and FromSoftware achieve faster development cycles through discipline, constraint, reuse, and efficient organizational structures, contrasting with the tendency for overreach in larger productions. The article also touches on the potential impact of generative AI on future game production.
The Witcher 4 Studio’s Co-CEO “Has Doubts” If Generative AI is “The Path to Follow” to Make Games
CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski expressed doubts about generative AI being the primary path for game development, despite acknowledging its use in productivity areas. He believes AI cannot create games like The Witcher 5 or 6. Other companies like Pocketpair also avoid generative AI, while Crystal Dynamics has used it in early development for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.
AI Yi-Yi!
The former head of AI at Take-Two Interactive believes the current hype surrounding generative AI is detrimental and could negatively impact the future adoption of traditional AI technologies. The article also briefly mentions Amazon abandoning a Sam Altman movie project.
PUBG has genAI team mates now capable of "intelligent decision-making", and I must remind you that Krafton are working on bots for the military
PUBG: Battlegrounds is introducing generative AI teammates called PUBG Ally Duo, currently in beta, utilizing Nvidia technology for intelligent decision-making and speech capabilities. This initiative reflects Krafton's broader investments in generative AI, including a partnership with a military company for unpiloted robot systems. The beta aims to gather player feedback for the future of AI agents in games.
Take-Two's ex-AI boss says the generative AI hype is "poisoning the well" and could ward off all use of traditional AI in the future
Take-Two's former AI boss, Luke Dicken, believes the excessive hype around generative AI is "poisoning the well" and could negatively impact the adoption of traditional AI in game development. He argues that the focus on generative AI overshadows the potential of other AI techniques and that the industry may abandon AI research altogether if the current bubble bursts.
Epic Games doubles down on Unreal Engine AI integration, as Fortnite tools jeopardize Vampire Survivors collab
Epic Games is significantly integrating Artificial Intelligence into Unreal Engine, aiming to streamline content creation and boost iteration for developers. This push towards generative AI and LLMs has led to concerns, notably from Vampire Survivors developer Poncle, who is reviewing their collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic's extensive use of AI in asset creation.
Vampire Survivors devs are rethinking their Fortnite collab
The developers of Vampire Survivors, Poncle, are reconsidering their collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic Games' increasing integration of generative AI tools. Despite Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney's past comments on AI tags, the company is now promoting generative AI for game asset creation within Unreal Engine. Poncle has publicly stated they are reviewing the partnership, indicating a potential halt if Epic Games continues down this path.
Epic's plans for their big store revamp over the next year sound like they'll at long last meet the bare minimum
Epic Games has revealed plans for significant improvements to the Epic Games Store over the next year, addressing long-standing criticisms about its lack of basic features. Upcoming additions include patch notes, improved navigation, user reviews, and personalized homepages. The company also mentioned generative AI integration in Unreal Engine 6, though this was met with skepticism.
