PlayStation has introduced a new tool named Mockingbird that assists in processing 3D facial animations, emphasizing that AI is a crucial element in shortening game development and software engineering timelines.
Hideaki Nishino, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), revealed the latest corporate strategy focused on fully integrating Generative AI technology into PlayStation's game development process.PlayStationThe main goals are to enhance work efficiency, reduce redundancy, and speed up software engineering, quality assurance (QA), as well as 3D modeling and animation tasks.
A key innovation highlighted in the report is a tool called Mockingbird, designed to quickly create 3D facial animations from Performance Capture data.
PlayStation confirms this technology is not intended to replace actors but to improve data processing efficiency to achieve faster results.
Currently, this tool is being used by leading studios such as Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio, and has been implemented in released titles like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.
Beyond game development, PlayStation is also applying AI to enhance gameplay experiences and platform infrastructure, including the AI agent Sophy in the Gran Turismo series, the creation of AI-driven new NPC characters, and backend systems for transaction management and improved content filtering on the store tailored to users.
However, while management views AI as an opportunity to lower creative barriers, a GDC State of the Industry survey reflects a contrasting perspective from developers: over 52 percent of game industry professionals see AI as having a negative impact on the industry, up from 30 percent the previous year. Concerns are especially strong among artists, game designers, and writers, who fear the technology's effects the most.
Source:Game Developer