Ubisoft, the publisher behind popular franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, recently introduced a groundbreaking project called 'NEO NPCs' at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. This new initiative aims to revolutionize the way players interact with non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games.
According to GI.biz, in a private demo at GDC, Ubisoft showcased several demos where players could interact with AI-powered characters using voice commands. One of the demos featured an NPC named Bloom, who would respond to player questions and react based on the tone of their voice. Players were encouraged to learn about Bloom's background and other characters.
If players ask the right questions, they could trigger scripted information relevant to the game. Building a relationship with Bloom would allow players to 'level up' their connection via an on-screen meter, unlocking more behaviors.
In another demo, Bloom observed a stealth mission with a drone, responding to the mission events and player questions. The NPC demonstrated awareness of progress and surroundings, creating a more immersive experience for players.
Another NPC showcased was Iron, who offered suggestions during a mission planning stage. Players could challenge Iron's ideas, prompting her to comment on their viability.
These advancements in AI technology aim to enhance narrative immersion in video games and showcase the potential for advanced NPCs in future game development. The project was led by a team at Ubisoft's Paris studio, with support from the Production Technology department.
Ubisoft collaborated with Nvidia and Inworld AI for this project. Nvidia's Audio2Face technology enables real-time facial animation, while Inworld AI's Character Engine and LLM technology help build a complete background and conversational style for each NPC.
Xavier Manzanares, director and producer of the project, stated, "For the first time, the game world actually listens to and dynamically responds to the players. Social interactions and skills become part of the gameplay."
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