The world has enthusiastically embraced artificial intelligence (AI), recognizing its potential to revolutionize various aspects of life. AI has been tested across different industries, challenging the status quo and revitalizing ecosystems that have faced trials and errors over the years.
In this quest to unlock AI’s true potential, we witness the integration of AI elements into existing systems to overcome current limitations. The gaming industry, in particular, views AI as a means to transcend incremental upgrades. Whether it’s optimizing hardware or harnessing the power of the latest GPUs, AI is poised to redefine the gaming experience.
Ryan Wyatt, formerly a prominent figure in the gaming industry and now involved in blockchain technology, shares insights into how AI could transform the gaming ecosystem and its implications for blockchain gaming.
AI’s Role in the Gaming Ecosystem
AI is often described as another tool in a game developer’s toolkit, one that complements existing resources. While some suggest AI could replace human efforts in gaming, Wyatt disagrees. He sees AI as a powerful tool enabling both small and large game development teams to achieve more than ever before. AI empowers game developers to create experiences previously considered impossible, enriching gamers’ interactions with their favorite titles.
AI and E-Waste Reduction
While AI has the potential to optimize various aspects of gaming, can it address the issue of electronic waste (e-waste) generated by legacy systems? Wyatt acknowledges this as a complex challenge. Over the past two decades, hardware has consistently advanced, leading to an increase in e-waste. Despite AI’s capacity for optimization, it might be wishful thinking to believe it can entirely repurpose legacy systems and reduce e-waste. The demand for hardware, particularly GPUs, continues to grow, making it unlikely that e-waste will significantly decrease in the near future. In fact, AI may exacerbate this issue over the next 5-10 years.
Choosing AI Applications: Graphics, World Maps, or Storylines?
When presented with the choice of using AI for graphics optimization, unlimited world map rendering, or never-ending storylines in games, Wyatt expresses a desire for both graphics optimization and evolving storylines. While expansive open worlds have played a vital role in gaming, Wyatt believes that the interaction with non-player characters (NPCs) needs to evolve. He cites examples like Inworld AI, which offers advanced dialogue interactions, allowing developers to craft unique and memorable AI NPCs. The collision of these advancements could redefine the gaming industry in the next decade.
Blockchain Gaming and Its Distinctions
Wyatt sees blockchain gaming as a tool that can change how gamers and developers interact with games. By storing assets and information on a blockchain, gaming experiences can involve value exchange between developers, users, and gamers without relying on intermediaries. While this concept is promising, it still faces inefficiencies compared to traditional gaming. Blockchain gaming has had its share of challenges, including the recent reset in the crypto space due to misuse. However, in Eastern markets, major gaming developers like Square Enix and Nexon are embracing blockchain gaming due to the unique mechanics it offers.
AI’s Contribution to Blockchain Gaming Adoption
Blockchain gaming’s widespread adoption may take time, but AI could play a role in ensuring the ethical use of AI-generated content in this context. Blockchains offer transparency and immutability, allowing them to track and verify the origin of AI-generated content. This ensures responsible and ethical AI use, preventing the creation of harmful or misleading content.
Challenges and Opportunities in Blockchain Gaming
Wyatt believes that the slow adoption of blockchain gaming is due to unrealistic timing expectations and the underwhelming first iterations of blockchain games. Long game development cycles and various challenges, such as gas costs and infrastructure issues, have hindered progress. However, he anticipates the release of groundbreaking blockchain games in 2024-2025, offering unique experiences and reinvigorating the blockchain gaming industry.
Play-to-Earn and Its Viability
Play-to-earn mechanics aim to reward gamers for their time spent in games, aligning with developers’ goals of increasing player engagement. However, achieving the right balance in decentralized economies has proven challenging. This has led to some abuse of the category, making it essential to refine token and economic strategies to make play-to-earn more viable.
AI and Blockchain’s Impact on Mainstream Gaming
To drive the adoption of AI and blockchain in mainstream gaming, developers must experiment with these technologies, learn from their experiences, and showcase their benefits to gamers. While larger games continue to dominate viewership, Wyatt believes that both AI and blockchain will have breakout moments driven by native app developers and indie game developers. However, for widespread adoption, larger players in the industry will eventually need to incorporate these technologies.
In conclusion, AI and blockchain hold tremendous potential to reshape the gaming industry, offering new experiences and possibilities for gamers and developers alike. While there are challenges to overcome, the intersection of AI and blockchain is set to redefine gaming in the coming years.