Capcom, a major player in the gaming industry, is delving into the use of generative AI to streamline the creation of in-game environments, aiming to generate the "hundreds of thousands" of unique ideas needed for their expansive game worlds. As the costs associated with video game development continue to escalate, game publishers are increasingly turning to AI technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses. For instance, Call of Duty has already ventured into this territory by offering an "AI-generated cosmetic" for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in late 2023, and fans have speculated about the use of generative AI in other aspects, such as loading screens. Meanwhile, EA has emphasized the centrality of AI to its business model.

In a recent interview with Google Cloud Japan, Kazuki Abe, a technical director at Capcom known for his work on blockbuster titles like Monster Hunter: World and Exoprimal, shed light on how the company is experimenting with AI integration in their development process. Abe highlighted that one of the most labor-intensive parts of game development involves generating a vast number of unique ideas. He pointed out that even simple items like televisions require individual designs, logos, and shapes, leading to the creation of hundreds of thousands of ideas, including many that go unused.

To address the need for multiple proposals for each of the thousands to tens of thousands of objects in a game, Abe developed a system that leverages generative AI. This AI system reads through various game design documents and generates ideas autonomously. It not only speeds up the development process but also provides feedback to refine its outputs further. The prototype, which utilizes advanced AI models like Google Gemini Pro, Gemini Flash, and Imagen, has garnered positive feedback from Capcom's internal development teams. Abe noted that implementing this AI model could "reduce costs significantly" compared to manual methods, while also enhancing the quality of the output.

Currently, Capcom's use of AI is confined to this specific system, ensuring that other critical aspects of game development such as ideation, gameplay mechanics, programming, and character design remain the domain of human creativity and expertise.