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Sony AI is a new division that Sony established in 2019 and it’s now been revealed that it will be collaborating with Sony’s PlayStation division.
The two are working together to make NPC characters in games smarter. Specifically opponents and teammates. The details were revealed as part of Sony’s recent Corporate Strategy Meeting. Where the company also opened up about its plans to explore the mobile market with some of its game titles.
Sony’s documentation doesn’t go into great detail but it does mention basic elements of the endeavor. Sony says that Sony AI “has begun a collaboration with PlayStation that will make game experiences even richer and more enjoyable.”
Sony AI and PlayStation will deliver smarter in-game characters
To make this all work, Sony is using something it calls “reinforcement learning.” Which it’s leveraging to develop Game AI agents that either be a player’s opponent or partner and react more intelligently to things happening or actions taken in a game being played.
Reinforcement learning takes AI agents and teaches them how to make smarter decisions based on trial and error.
A decent example of how Sony’s implementation might all work from the player side of the experience is Final Fantasy XIV’s Trust System. With this system in place, players can enter the game’s many dungeons with NPC-controlled party members.
They know when to heal, when to attack, when to back off from an engagement, when to defend against incoming attacks, or just follow you on the path to the next encounter. They’re essentially like real-player party members. And it makes getting through some of the game’s content a little easier. As you don’t have to wait for a party to be found.
Granted this is just one example of how Sony’s implementation might work. But ultimately, on a broad level players should expect smarter opponents and team members. Suggesting party experiences like explained above or opponents that can better react to your decisions.
And that could lead to more difficult battles and, as Sony states, a richer and more enjoyable game experience.