Capcom to Integrate AI in Game Development Process
Capcom announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning into its RE Engine to accelerate game development. The company stated AI will not be used for creating creative game assets.
Game developer Capcom has revealed its intention to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into its game development processes to enhance efficiency. The move aims to shorten development cycles, which have grown considerably for major game releases. The new initiative, codenamed REX, will embed multiple AI programs into Capcom's proprietary RE Engine.
Capcom emphasized that AI will not be employed for generating creative aspects of games, such as character design or environmental assets. Instead, the technology will be utilized for functions like quality assurance testing and streamlining other parts of the production pipeline. This addresses a wider industry challenge of increasingly lengthy development times.
Other major gaming companies, including Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive, are also exploring or implementing AI. Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson indicated that up to 85% of their quality assurance work is now handled by AI. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, has stated the company is seeking ways to make development faster and more cost-effective through AI.
The RE Engine is used by development teams across various countries. The new AI tools are expected to standardize the development language and expedite project completion. For instance, one system could animate multiple objects or characters concurrently, while another could convert game mechanics ideas into a standardized programming language.
Capcom has previously experimented with AI for idea generation in partnership with Google. The company maintains that AI will serve as a supporting technology to boost development efficiency and productivity, rather than replace human creative work.