Xbox is developing an “AI toolset” to help developers with story, dialogue and quest design

Xbox Series X top half on a yellow background
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Stockcrafterpro)

Xbox has teamed up with Inworld AI, in a partnership which the companies hope will allow them to create an “accessible, responsibly designed multi-platform AI toolset” to help developers with quest design, story and dialogue, as well as an “AI character runtime engine” to make NPCs more realistic.

As outlined in a post on the Inworld blog, the AI toolset - also referred to as an “AI design copilot” - is intended to assist game designers in exploring “more creative ideas” by being able to use prompts to generate dialogue trees, quests and “detailed scripts.” 

The blog post suggests that this could be used in the pre-production phase of game development, when developers, writers and designers bring together characters’ stories, as well as the lore of the world they’re in, and mechanics of the game itself. It implies that using the AI tool could “reduce the time and resource constraints during production”, in turn allowing games to release faster, and be more “expansive and immersive” when they do. 

Meanwhile, the character runtime engine aims to bring “depth and realism” to NPCs, by allowing them to “adapt” to players’ actions as they happen, “providing players with a sense of agency and engagement like never before.” The post notes that using more than one AI model simultaneously will allow the character runtime engine to deliver dynamic responses in the form of dialogue, expressions, actions and gestures.

Haiyan Zhang, the general manager of gaming AI at Xbox said that these tools are intended for “game developers of any size, anywhere in the world, and on every platform where players want to play.” She added: “We want to help make it easier for developers to realize their visions, try new things, push the boundaries of gaming today, and experiment to improve gameplay, player connection and more.”  

The use of AI in and around game development continues to be a controversial topic - voice actors like Yuri Lowenthal have raised concerns about the use of AI to impersonate voices. In September, The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) voted in favor of authorizing a strike against video game companies on the grounds that its members deserve better “protections surrounding AI”. However, it’s not yet known if strike action will take place. 

Looking for some fantastic gaming deals? Be sure to check out our early Black Friday gaming deals hub, and, if you’re looking to stock up on some brand-new games, you can also peruse our Black Friday video game deals roundup.

TOPICS
Catherine Lewis
News Writer, TechRadar Gaming

Catherine is a News Writer for TechRadar Gaming. Armed with a journalism degree from The University of Sheffield, she was sucked into the games media industry after spending far too much time on her university newspaper writing about Pokémon and cool indie games, and realising that was a very cool job, actually. She previously spent 19 months working at GAMINGbible as a full-time journalist. She loves all things Nintendo, and will never stop talking about Xenoblade Chronicles. 

Read more
Microsoft announces generative AI model Muse
Microsoft's new 'breakthrough' generative AI model is designed to 'create consistent and diverse gameplay' and could be used to preserve classic games
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
Future PlayStation games could have AI-powered characters, if this leaked prototype of Aloy is anything to go by
Xbox Copilot in Minecraft
Microsoft confirms Copilot can be tested by Xbox Insiders next month and shares new details about how the AI sidekick will enhance the player experience: 'It has to be about gameplay, it has to be personalized to you'
OpenAI
OpenAI wants to help your business build its next generation of AI agents
The SAG-AFTRA San-Fransisco-North California Local
SAG-AFTRA union and video game industry bargaining group remain at odds as agreements on AI protections still 'frustratingly far apart'
Latest in Xbox
Indiana Jones picks up an ancient relic in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: exhilarating old-school action
An Xbox 360 Rumble Roses XX screenshot.
My Xbox Year in Review 2024 features bangers like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Rumble Roses XX, here's how to see yours
Xbox Series X Digital Edition deal
Stop what you're doing and check out this Xbox Series X Black Friday deal – it probably won't be beaten
The three new Xbox Series console variants on a stand at Gamescom 2024
Where to buy the new Xbox Series X and S consoles - including the gorgeous Galaxy Black 2TB machine
Xbox One and controller
Xbox will 'respect the investments that people have made' and encourage backward compatibility in the future
Microsoft Corp. Xbox Design Lab controllers are displayed during E3
Xbox is already focused on ‘delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation’
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough