NVIDIA Redefines Game AI With ACE Autonomous Game Characters
The term 'AI' has been used in games for decades. These non-playable characters (NPCs) traditionally follow strict rules designed to mimic intelligence, adhere to a guided story, and provide a scripted interaction with the player. However, with the rise of intelligent language models, game AI is primed for a truly intelligent overhaul. At CES 2025, NVIDIA is redefining game AI with the introduction of NVIDIA ACE autonomous game characters.
First introduced in 2023, NVIDIA ACE is a suite of RTX-accelerated digital human technologies that bring game characters to life with generative AI. NVIDIA is now expanding ACE from conversational NPCs to autonomous game characters that use AI to perceive, plan, and act like human players. Powered by generative AI, ACE will enable living, dynamic game worlds with companions that comprehend and support player goals, and enemies that adapt dynamically to player tactics.
Enhancing AI Characters with Generative AI
Enabling these autonomous characters are new ACE small language models (SLMs), capable of planning at human-like frequencies required for realistic decision making, and multi-modal SLMs for vision and audio that allow AI characters to hear audio cues and perceive their environment. NVIDIA is partnering with leading game developers to incorporate ACE autonomous game characters into their titles.
Simulating Human-Like Decision Making
At the core of decision making is an internal conversation with one’s self, repeatedly asking the same question: “What should I do next?” By utilizing generative AI, game developers can start to simulate human-like decision making in AI characters, mimicking perceptions, cognitions, and actions similar to how humans operate.
Empowering AI Characters with Advanced Models
In order for AI characters to make good decisions, a high frequency stream of perception data is essential. ACE SLMs for cognition and action are designed to meet the latency and throughput requirements for realistic and dynamic gameplay encounters, providing AI characters with the capability to act more like human teammates.
Creating Dynamic Gameplay Experiences
NVIDIA ACE characters act as autonomous squad members, offering strategic suggestions, engaging enemies, and creating dynamic gameplay encounters typically only experienced with human teammates. These AI characters can join your party, find specific items, offer strategic recommendations, and assist you in achieving victory in various games.
KRAFTON's PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS introduces Co-Playable Character (CPC) with PUBG Ally, built with NVIDIA ACE technology. NetEase will also release a local inference AI Teammate feature for NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, enhancing the gameplay experience with AI-powered characters.
Transforming Game Interactions
Through the use of NVIDIA ACE, game developers are crafting entirely new types of gameplay where interactions are driven by player prompts and AI-generated responses. Characters in games like Dead Meat take action based on player input, providing new immersive ways of interacting with the game and creating unique experiences for players.
