Capcom and Virgin Voyages Introduce AI Tools at Google Cloud Conference
Video game company Capcom and cruise line Virgin Voyages are debuting new AI applications at a Google Cloud developer conference in Las Vegas. Capcom's AI agents assist in video game playtesting, while Virgin Voyages' Rovey virtual assistant supports trip booking and recommendations. Separate updates include executive changes at Apple and OpenAI, and AI investments by Amazon.
cloud.google.comCapcom has deployed AI agents to support playtesting in video game development, allowing engineers and artists to concentrate on creative tasks. These agents operate for over 30,000 hours per month and test approximately six video game titles before release, according to Capcom.
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Jack Buser, director of games for Google Cloud, stated that game teams have grown larger and face complex problems as games increase in size. The AI agents detect issues such as graphics failures, crashes, or discomfort in character movements, and provide suggestions for fixes.
Kazuki Abe, Capcom’s technical director and head of AI solutions and platform, said that current game worlds are as large as one city, with thousands of characters and tens of thousands of objects. For instance, verifying visual changes when a character switches equipment takes human playtesters 5,280 hours, but AI completes it in about 72 hours.
Other agents predict system issues and assist new employees by referencing past debugging methods. Shinichi Inoue, Capcom’s VP of engineering, stated that AI will help train game designers, artists, and programmers without reducing the workforce. The gaming industry, valued at $200 billion, has seen longer development cycles due to advanced graphics and gameplay, along with revenue slowdowns from mobile gaming shifts and layoffs from consolidation.
Virgin Voyages has introduced Rovey, an AI-enabled virtual assistant for guests. Rovey assists with booking trips, providing itinerary recommendations, and answering logistical questions. Nathan Rosenberg, Virgin’s chief brand and marketing officer, said the company will monitor satisfaction scores and recommendation likelihood influenced by Rovey.
