Ubisoft's Ghostwriter AI will create NPC Dialogue: A Boon or Bane for Video Game Writers?

Ubisoft, the famous and infamous French video game company, has revealed that it is working on an artificial intelligence called 'Ghostwriter,' which can create dialogue for game NPCs.

Following a presentation at the Game Developers Conference, the announcement was made in a blog post. The AI was developed by Ubisoft's research and development department La Forge and is intended to generate dialogue for non-playable characters in a game.

no replacement

Ghostwriter is not meant to replace the work of a video game writer, but rather to help them with one of their most time-consuming tasks: writing 'barks.' 'Barks' are phrases or sounds that NPCs make in response to what the player does in the game world. Scriptwriters would have more time to focus on improving the game's actual narrative if these dialogues were generated automatically.

backlash

Despite Ubisoft's positive approach, several developers expressed disappointment on social media following the reveal of Ghostwriter. Santa Monica Studio's Alanah Pearce tweeted, "As a writer, it sounds much more time-consuming to edit AI-generated scripts and dialogues instead of creating my own. I'd much rather see AAA studios use the money spent on these tools to hire more writers."

worries

While the concept of an AI generating dialogue for NPCs may appear to be a promising new development in the gaming industry, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks. While the use of AI can free up time for video game writers to focus on other areas, it may also result in a less personalized touch to the game's characters. Players may miss the nuances and distinct personalities that writers can imbue in game NPCs.

Only time will tell whether Ghostwriter is a success, but one thing is certain: the AI will shake up the video game writing industry in the coming years.