Non-player characters (NPCs) are one of the most important elements of any video game. They help sell the lie developers are building, even if they’re a little generic — especially in bigger open-world titles. Now, PlayStation wants to make NPCs a little smarter, using — you guessed it — AI.
Microsoft and Sony are both looking for any excuse to add artificial intelligence to their consoles. In a Sony patent filed recently called “AI-adapted non-player character for video game system,” the patent describes a system that aims to make NPCs more realistic. It’ll need data to make that happen. And the player is right there…
Learning as you go
This isn’t the first time developers have fiddled with AI in NPCs. Nvidia’s ACE kicked around a similar idea, though it was focused primarily on making dialogue sound more realistic using an LLM. Sony’s plan would, in theory, change the entire NPC. Its behaviour in a boss fight, for instance, or even its design.
We can see the potential value. Elden Ring immediately jumps to mind. That game offers scripted ‘invasions’ that could benefit from appearing more ‘lifelike’. Whether a non-player invader takes a bit of fun out of the whole ordeal is up to the human player, but for folks without internet, it could be a boon. If done right.
Sony feels the tech is necessary to halt ballooning budgets and bloat in their titles. The patent says that “developing such believable NPCs is challenging due to limitations of modern game development and often relies extensive scripting and programming. Additionally, NPC development often relies on sophisticated systems and extensive resources to track, animate, and evolve NPC behaviors.” This is where AI enters to save the day.
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“The techniques described herein overcome the foregoing challenges and others by providing an artificial intelligence (AI)-adapted NPC. By using the techniques described herein, video game systems can be improved,” the patent continues. Maybe Sony has forgotten about the hundreds of successful games that didn’t need AI?
Sony would need to address some gaps to get gamers on board. Like where that training data is going, and how it is processed. If the cloud is involved, are security risks. As IGN points out, it’d only be a matter of time before advertisers want that data to try and sell you something. Are gitgud pills a thing?
As with any patent, there’s no guarantee Sony will pursue this any further. Just last week, Sony filed another patent that would turn your PlayStation controller into an NFC paypoint. But Sony’s statements therein do suggest the company is at least seriously considering bringing the idea to consumers. If not now, then one day.
