Over the past 12 months or so, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making waves across various global industries, with the gaming realm being no exception. From enhancing player experiences to transforming the business models of incumbent gaming sectors, the influence of AI is certainly multifaceted. Excitingly, we’re only at the beginning of the AI revolution and it’s set to have a profound impact across multiple areas of digital entertainment.
In this article, we’ll be
delving into major AI developments to date, before explaining how this bleeding
edge technology is set to transform different segments of the gaming industry.
Looking Back at AI and Gaming To Date
AI's journey in gaming back
in the late 20th century began with simple rule-based systems. Early
implementations, such as the non-playable ghosts in 1980’s Pac-Man operated on
predefined programming scripts, effectively making them animated background
figures.
Since then, the sector
itself has evolved, with sophisticated machine learning algorithms now capable
of things like adaptive learning and complex decision-making. For instance, one
key emerging trend here in the gaming industry today is that of the dynamic NPC
(non playable character) in gaming, which is able to learn from and adapt to
player behaviours — therefore creating more immersive and challenging gaming
experiences.
AI-driven procedural content
generation (PCG) is also another development currently transforming how games
are designed and created. Titles like No Man’s Sky use AI-programming to
generate vast universes that gamers are free to explore, providing them with a
unique experience each and every time they play.
How AI Could Transform iGaming
The real money gaming
segments of the iGaming industry have been booming in popularity for well over
a decade now. Thanks to innovations like live and in-play wagering and the
expansion of online casino, poker and sports betting across the US, more people
than ever before are participating in these remote gambling opportunities.
Unlike other niche gaming
sectors, it’s not as though the online casino markets have any trouble
attracting new audiences. Generous promotions like providing new players with
the opportunity to get 200$ just for
signing up, for example, means the platforms are
always in demand, but the issues lie with customer retention. Due to the recent
expansion in the market, the average player has an almost overwhelming choice
of sites and mobile apps to choose from, meaning that even established operators
have to pay close attention to customer retention.
This is where Artificial
Intelligence could have a radical impact. Operators are increasingly using AI
tools and machine learning to analyse user behaviour and tailoring their gaming
experiences in response. AI algorithms can analyse data to a fine degree,
providing numerous opportunities for iGaming brands to offer personalised
recommendations and user experiences in order to boost engagement and encourage
customer retention.
Moreover, AI enhances security
in real money gaming experiences online. Machine learning models, for example,
can identify unusual patterns that may indicate fraudulent activities, helping
operators maintain a safe and fair gaming environment.
Artificial Intelligence and Video Gaming
AI has been integral to the
growth and development of the video gaming markets since the beginning but even
here, five decades later, it’s still having a transformative effect.
Beyond the creation of
smarter NPCs, AI can reshape the role that gamers themselves play in video game
design. We’re seeing an increased focus on user-generated content even in
mainstream video gaming, which empowers users and enhances player
interaction.AI-driven narrative engines can craft personalised storylines based
on the choices gamers make, ensuring that gameplay is unique to each
individual.
We’re also seeing an
increased focus on extended reality in video gaming, a sector in which AI is a
central component. Fusing artificial intelligence with augmented and virtual
reality can generate more interactive and adaptive environments, which deliver
real-time responses and changes in gaming environments based on player actions
and decisions.
