S Poddar
Microsoft is making significant strides in the world of artificial intelligence, and its latest endeavor could be a game-changer for Xbox fans. The company has introduced a new generative AI model called Muse, designed to help developers optimize and preserve classic Xbox games, making them accessible across multiple devices. This development marks a potential turning point in how the gaming industry approaches game preservation and creative ideation.
Muse has been termed as a “first-of-its-kind” generative AI model that can produce dynamic and coherent gameplay through AI-powered rendering. Microsoft has been working with Ninja Theory, a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios, to create Muse. The AI model was trained on Bleeding Edge, a multiplayer battle arena game, which enables it to learn the subtleties of game physics and player interactions.
In the words of Fatima Kardar, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Gaming AI, the AI model has a strong sense of understanding 3D game worlds. It is capable of inspecting game physics and reacting to inputs from players, making it a must-have tool for developers wishing to enrich game experiences. Microsoft sees Muse as a stepping point towards AI-powered gameplay that has the potential to revolutionize game development and conservation.
While the technology is in its infancy, Kardar feels Muse is “pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible.” The AI model is being trained on other first-party Xbox games, with the aim of making real-time playable AI models. Microsoft has huge potential in this project, particularly in its potential to give new life to older games that have become unplayable because of outdated hardware.
Kardar pointed out an all-too-common problem that players encounter: countless old-timey games are unavailable because they were written for now-ancient hardware. Through Muse, Microsoft hopes to scoop up legacy games from its huge library and reimagine them to run smoothly on current gear. The hope is to give users the ability to play much-loved vintage games on any display, console, PC, or even phone.
“Millions of classic games associated with aging hardware are no longer playable by the majority,” Kardar said. “We think this has the potential to revolutionize how we save and play classic games in the future and make them playable by more people. To think that classic games lost to the ages and hardware evolution might one day be playable on any screen with Xbox is a thrilling prospect for us.”
Microsoft is also probing the possibilities of Muse in terms of game creation, specifically towards creating new kinds of gameplay. With the aid of AI, game developers could inject new material into current games and create something entirely new to play. This technology, as posited by Kardar, may also enable players themselves to participate in creating the gameplay, which unlocks new possibilities in interactive game making.
Though the idea of AI-based game preservation and creation seems promising, it has been met with both excitement and doubt among gamers. There are those who have argued that AI-recreated versions of vintage games could not possibly equal the originals. Whether AI-generated material is genuine preservation or not is a question still being debated, with references made to how an AI recreating masterpieces would be done.
Among the topics of debate, some Xbox fans have questioned Microsoft’s decision to prioritize AI preservation over the continuation of the backward compatibility program. The backward compatibility program formerly enabled older games to be played on newer systems, and its halt left fans in dismay. Some contend that restoring this program would be a simpler method for game preservation.
Critics also surmise that economic reasons might be behind Microsoft’s move. The shutdown of teams working on backward compatibility implies a change in priorities, and AI might be a cheaper solution to bring back older games. Although Muse offers a thrilling technological innovation, there are some gamers who are doubtful about when they will actually get to experience tangible outcomes.
The gaming community has also expressed skepticism regarding the genuineness of AI-based games. A user said, “Imagine if an AI program ‘recreated’ the Mona Lisa. That’s not preservation, and neither would it be in gaming.” This is in line with the general argument about the use of AI in creative arts, where authenticity and intentionality are essential considerations.
Despite the skepticism, there is no denying that AI is becoming increasingly integrated into the gaming industry. Microsoft’s move to incorporate AI into game preservation and development reflects a broader trend of using technology to enhance gaming experiences. Other companies are also exploring AI-driven solutions for game design, storytelling, and procedural generation, indicating that AI could become a standard tool in the industry.
Whether or not Muse will deliver on its promise is yet to be determined. AI-based game preservation is in its early stages, and Microsoft has yet to show how this technology will work in practical applications. But the company’s dedication to finding new ways to make games accessible and develop them indicates that AI may have a significant role to play in the future of gaming.
As the gaming community waits for this evolution to take shape, one thing is certain: AI is not going away. Whether it will change the game of preservation or be a support tool at best is something only time will tell. Until then, gamers can only sit back and watch how Microsoft’s bold AI-based vision for Xbox plays out over the next few years.
