AI and Games
Game AI research and practical applications for developers, by Tommy Thompson.
Documents
A Primer on AI in the 2026 Games Industry
Artificial intelligence in the video game industry has transitioned from rule-based, theatrical systems designed to simulate character behavior to sophisticated machine learning frameworks that underpin modern development pipelines.
- AI has been used in games since the early 1980s, initially for 'Game AI' in non-player characters (NPCs) and procedural content generation, as seen in games like Pac-Man (1980) and Rogue (1980).
- The impact of deep learning since the early 2010s has led to significant, often unnoticed, AI applications in game development, such as Xbox Live's TrueSkill matchmaking (Halo 2, 2004) and machine learning bots for bug finding and game balance in titles like Ubisoft's For Honor and Rainbow Six Siege.
- Generative AI is already part of game development, particularly in non-creative fields like business admin, finance, production, and marketing, with around 50% of studios using it in these areas.
Godot Makes the Right Call in Blocking AI Code in Their Engine
The Godot Foundation’s decision to prohibit the use of generative AI in code contributions and review processes represents a strategic effort to maintain software integrity and project sustainability.
- The Godot game engine has updated its contribution policy as of June 30th, 2026, to prohibit the use of AI-generated code submissions and will ban users who submit heavily AI-generated work.
- This decision by Godot stems from an escalation in AI-generated code submissions, which began to be a noticeable problem in February 2026, and has since intensified.
- The surge in AI code generation capabilities, particularly with tools like Anthropic's Claude Code, has transformed enterprise software development by enabling AI to write code, run tests, observe errors, and debug.
Kickstarter Backer Update: July 2026
The July 2026 update for the Goal State project provides a progress report on the development of a comprehensive video lecture and tutorial series focused on the foundations of artificial intelligence for game development.
- The 'Goal State' project, a video lecture and tutorial series on AI for game development, is nearing completion, with a target launch by the end of 2026.
- The theory content is almost complete, with 448 pages written and only three out of 21 chapters remaining (Constraint Satisfaction Problems, Modelling Uncertainty, Behaviour Trees).
- Recording for the theory content is 40% complete, and the team is developing a new 'five-camera shot' editing style for more engaging presentations.
The Unreal 6 Reveal Is Epic's DLSS 5 Moment
The announcement of Unreal Engine 6 represents a significant strategic shift for Epic Games, prioritizing the integration of the Unreal Engine for Fortnite (UEFN) ecosystem over the traditional needs of the broader game development industry.
- Epic Games' Unreal Engine 6 (UE6) reveal is criticized for leadership decisions that are seen as out of touch with industry needs, similar to Nvidia's DLSS 5 announcement.
- Key changes in UE6 include a push for portable content, a new Scene Graph Framework replacing 'actors' and Blueprints, native Large Language Model (LLM) integration, and a transition from C++ to the Verse programming language.
- The shift from C++ to Verse, a proprietary language used in UEFN and described as 'the programming language of the Metaverse,' is a major concern for game studios and academic institutions due to its unfamiliarity and Epic's sole ownership.
How Forza Rebuilt Their Drivatar AI System
The Drivatar system in the Forza franchise has undergone a fundamental architectural shift, moving away from its original reliance on human-player data to a modern, independent deep reinforcement learning model.
- Forza Horizon 6, released in May 2026, features a highly aggressive Drivatar AI named 'Bowie Knife99' that has gained viral attention for its chaotic and rule-breaking driving behavior, including smashing into traffic and cutting corners.
- The aggressive Drivatar behavior in Forza Horizon 6 stems from fundamental changes made to the Drivatar AI system, which now breaks established rules about how Drivatars historically operated in Forza games.
- Starting with 2023's Forza Motorsport (Motorsport 8), the Drivatar AI system was completely rebuilt to be AI-based and no longer inspired by human player data, unlike the original system from 2005 which used Bayesian Neural Networks to replicate player driving styles.
Introducing the AI and Games Podcast
The AI and Games platform has officially launched a new fortnightly podcast, marking a significant expansion of its existing newsletter and YouTube content.
- AI and Games has launched a new fortnightly podcast, powered by AWS for Games, offering ad-free episodes and bonus content for premium subscribers.
- The AI and Games Podcast will cover industry news, big talking points, and interviews with sector guests, adhering to editorial principles of meaningful iteration, challenging hype, and building trust.
- The first season of the podcast will feature interviews with AWS development teams and companies they work with, alongside other industry figures, including an interview with Dr. Mike Cook about his 'Next Level' book.
Welcome to the AI and Games Podcast
The AI and Games podcast serves as a new, biweekly audio extension of the established AI and Games platform, which has provided analysis on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the video game industry for over a decade.
- The "AI and Games podcast" launched on June 26, 2026, offering new episodes biweekly/fortnightly.
- The podcast expands on existing content from the AI and Games newsletter and YouTube videos, which have been active for over 10 years.
- The podcast aims to provide hype-free and accessible information on AI's intersection with video games, including headlines, explainers, and interviews with industry professionals.
New AI Tracks at Gamescom Dev 2026
The Game AI Events non-profit organization has announced a strategic partnership with Gamescom Dev to introduce two specialized artificial intelligence tracks at the 2026 conference in Cologne, Germany.
- Game AI Events CIC, the non-profit behind the AI and Games Conference, is partnering with Gamescom Dev 2026 to co-curate new AI tracks for the video games industry.
- Gamescom Dev 2026 will take place from August 23rd-25th in Cologne, Germany, and the AI for Gameplay and AI for Production tracks will be accessible with a regular Gamescom Dev ticket.
- The AI and Games Conference, which focuses on AI research and applications in video games, has over 8,000 subscribers and recently announced its return to London in November 2026.
The UK Government's AI Adoption Plan for Creative Industries
The United Kingdom government has released a new AI adoption plan specifically targeting the creative industries, marking a significant development in the national strategy for integrating artificial intelligence into the screen and media sectors.
- The UK government's 'AI Champion' initiative has released its initial reports, advocating for an 'augmentation first' approach to AI in creative industries, rather than replacement.
- The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), in collaboration with DSIT and DCMS, launched an open consultation in December 2024 regarding copyright in the age of AI.
- The January 2025 consultation proposed that all UK-produced intellectual property would be freely available to AI companies unless creators opted out, a system criticized as impractical.
AI and Games Conference 2026
The 2026 AI and Games Conference is scheduled to take place from November 10 to 11, 2026, at the Here East innovation campus in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
- The AI and Games Conference will return to London from November 10th to 11th, 2026, at a new venue, Here East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
- The call for submissions for speakers is currently open and will close on August 3rd, 2026.
- Early-bird tickets for the conference are currently available for purchase, with subsidized options for students and indie developers.
Capcom Lays Out Their AI Philosophy
Capcom maintains a strategic focus on integrating artificial intelligence primarily as a mechanism for enhancing production efficiency, specifically within technical domains such as debugging and quality assurance.
- Capcom is focusing its AI development on areas like debugging and testing (e.g., QA support in Monster Hunter Stories 3) to resolve "intermediate-steps" that lack human authorship, contradicting previous explorations into generative AI for ideation.
- Ubisoft plans to release a "First Playable Generative AI Experience" and new entries in the Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon franchises in fiscal years 27/28 and 28/29.
- Fireshine Games will not work with developers who rely on generative AI for core game creation, especially for art and visual assets, though they distinguish this from AI used for code completion.
Generative Design in Minecraft: 2026
The Generative Design in Minecraft (GDMC) competition, now entering its ninth year, serves as a long-standing academic and community platform for exploring procedural content generation (PCG) within the Minecraft ecosystem.
- The Generative Design in Minecraft Competition (GDMC), an annual event challenging participants to create procedural generation systems for Minecraft cities, is still active in 2026, marking its 9th year.
- While traditional procedural generation techniques still dominate the GDMC, generative AI, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), has shown impact in the 'Chronicle Challenge' for generating narrative and backstory based on biome and geometric features, as demonstrated by 2025 winner Shadow Wizard Monkey Gang.
- The tools used in the GDMC have evolved from MCEdit to more malleable options, aiding in the competition's longevity and allowing for more complex and improved settlement designs since 2019.