TECH NEWS – Amazon Games’ Christoph Hartmann advocates artificial intelligence replacing human performance in video games…

The video game industry was embroiled in a heated debate over the weekend about using artificial intelligence (AI) in game development, particularly regarding voice acting and performance capture. The main instigator? Christoph Hartmann, head of Amazon Games, is known for hits like New World and Crucible, which no one really remembers.

Hartmann recently voiced his support for the increased integration of artificial intelligence in video game production while seemingly dismissing the importance of voice actors, much to the internet’s collective annoyance.

In a recent interview, Hartmann shared his vision for how AI will help streamline the video game development process and reduce production times. He believed that AAA games’ current five-year development cycle was too long. He suggested that AI could help cut that down to about three years. This would allow for more iterations and potentially a lower budget.

Hartmann’s negative comments about dubbing – that “For games, we don’t really have acting,” – were criticized for being inaccurate.

Also because it dismisses the vigilant role of voice actors and motion capture performers in modern game development.

This statement came at a particularly sensitive time, as members of SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents many voice actors in the gaming industry, are on strike. Union members are fighting for better protections, especially regarding the use of artificial intelligence technology that could potentially replace human presenters.

Hartmann’s comments could not be further from the truth. Most of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful games of recent years have been praised for their dubbing and motion capture. Titles such as The Last of Us Part II, God of War: Ragnarök and Baldur’s Gate 3 have all received accolades for their voice acting and motion capture work.

Can you imagine if AI had replaced Ashley Johnson as Ellie in The Last of Us? Or would Kratos’ now-iconic “boy” echo and reverberasimilarlyway if it hadn’t been for Christopher Judge?

What else could AI be used for, according to the Amazon Games boss?

Harmann was not content with his comments and views on artificial intelligence and performance capture. He also suggested that AI could be beneficial in game localization, potentially allowing games to support more languages. While this may indeed increase accessibility for players worldwide, it ignores the nuanced work of professional translators and voice actors in adapting games for different cultures and languages.

You don’t need to be an expert to see that the human factor of game development – whether it’s voice acting, motion capture or other aspects – is part of creating the memorable characters and experiences that define great games.

It is clear that the integration of artificial intelligence into game development remains a controversial issue, and it will remain so for the foreseeable future. While supporters like Hartmann see it as an opportunity to increase efficiency and expand creative options, many are rightly concerned about the potential job losses and impact on game quality. The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike highlights the gravity of the situation and the need for the video game industry to seriously consider how it uses artificial intelligence.

The challenge for the industry’s biggest publishers now is to find a way to balance AI’s potential benefits while preserving the irreplaceable human elements that have made video games such a powerful and beloved medium.

Source: IGN