In a groundbreaking showcase of innovation, Ubisoft, in collaboration with technology partners NVIDIA and Inworld AI, presented their latest experiment in game development at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024. The project, dubbed “NEO NPCs,” delves into the future of interactive gameplay, emergent storytelling, and AI-driven character interactions, offering a glimpse into the next frontier of gaming experiences.

NEO NPCs, the result of extensive research and development by Ubisoft’s multidisciplinary team based in Paris, represent a significant advancement in NPC technology. These dynamic characters are designed to interact in real time with players, their environment, and other in-game entities, paving the way for unprecedented levels of immersion and narrative complexity.

“AI is a powerful tool that can greatly enhance players’ experiences by making games more dynamic, immersive and unique,” said John Spitzer, vice president of developer and performance technologies at NVIDIA. “We are thrilled to partner with Ubisoft to leverage NVIDIA ACE in the advancement of digital characters.”

During the demonstration at GDC 2024, Ubisoft showcased the capabilities of NEO NPCs through a series of interactive scenarios, each highlighting different aspects of NPC behaviours, environmental awareness, and conversational dynamics. Guillemette Picard, Ubisoft’s SVP of Production Technology, emphasized the potential of Gen AI in shaping player experiences, envisioning smarter worlds and adaptive narratives that transcend traditional gaming conventions.

NEO NPCs blur the lines between scripted game elements and player-driven interactions, offering a glimpse into a future where gaming experiences are truly dynamic and personalized. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies from Inworld AI, Ubisoft’s narrative team crafted intricate backstories and conversational styles for each NPC, while NVIDIA’s Audio2Face technology brought these characters to life with real-time facial animations.

“Gen AI will enable player experiences that are yet to be imagined, with smarter worlds, nuanced characters, and emergent and adaptive narratives,” said Guillemette Picard, Ubisoft’s SVP of Production Technology. “By partnering with NVIDIA on our NEO NPCs prototype: NVIDIA’s Audio2Face solution helped us to create deeper immersion through real-time facial animations for truly improvisational NPC conversations.”

In addition to their innovative AI-driven NPCs, NVIDIA also announced a new Game Ready driver for Horizon Forbidden West, featuring support for DLSS 3, DLAA, and Reflex technologies. This driver ensures optimal performance and image quality for GeForce gamers, further enhancing the gaming experience in critically acclaimed titles.

The unveiling of NEO NPCs at GDC 2024 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of gaming technology, showcasing the potential of AI to revolutionize interactive storytelling and gameplay. As Ubisoft continues to push the boundaries of game development, players can look forward to immersive experiences that blur the lines between fantasy and reality.