Capcom Experimenting With Generative AI to Create 'Hundreds of Thousands of Unique Ideas' Needed to Build In-Game Environments

Capcom is exploring the use of generative AI to streamline the creation of the vast number of design concepts required for its game environments. The company acknowledges the significant time and resources dedicated to generating "hundreds of thousands" of unique ideas for in-game assets.

As game development costs escalate, the industry is increasingly turning to AI tools, a move met with both excitement and controversy. Recent examples include reports of AI-generated cosmetics in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and accusations of AI use in loading screen design. EA has even declared AI as "the very core" of its operations.

In an interview with Google Cloud Japan, Capcom's Technical Director, Kazuki Abe (known for his work on Monster Hunter: World and Exoprimal), detailed the company's AI experimentation. Abe highlighted the substantial effort involved in generating diverse designs, citing the numerous unique designs, logos, and shapes needed for even simple objects like televisions. He explained that multiple design proposals, complete with illustrations and textual descriptions, are required for the thousands or tens of thousands of such assets in each game.

To address this efficiency challenge, Abe developed a system leveraging generative AI. This system processes game design documents and outputs design concepts, accelerating the development process. The AI iteratively refines its output based on its own feedback, further enhancing efficiency.

Abe's prototype, utilizing AI models like Google Gemini Pro, Gemini Flash, and Imagen, has reportedly received positive internal feedback. The anticipated outcome is a substantial cost reduction and a potential improvement in overall design quality compared to manual creation.

Currently, Capcom's AI implementation is focused solely on this concept generation system. Other crucial aspects of game development, including gameplay mechanics, programming, character design, and overall game ideation, remain firmly under the control of human developers.