Zenless Zone Zero, the newest gacha game from miHoYo, will be released in this early July, has caught the attention of gamers worldwide with its vibrant urban art style and immersive gameplay. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, producer Zhenyu Li provided insights into how AI is integrated into the game development process. Through the use of AI-generated content, miHoYo aims to streamline and enhance the production process, ensuring a smoother gaming experience for players.
AI in Game Development: Smoothing the Process
Zhenyu Li revealed that AI technology is utilized in Zenless Zone Zero primarily to aid the programming team. While specific programming examples were not provided, Li emphasized that AI only constitutes a small part of the game’s programming. Its primary function is to facilitate the production process, making the team’s work more efficient. This strategic use of AI reflects miHoYo’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver high-quality gaming experiences.
Artistic Integrity: Handcrafted Urban Aesthetics
One of the standout features of Zenless Zone Zero is its distinctive urban art style. Unlike miHoYo’s other titles, such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero boasts a unique visual identity. Li assured fans that the game’s vibrant art is not a product of AI generation. Instead, the creative team at miHoYo is dedicated to crafting original content from their own imagination. This commitment to artistic integrity ensures that the game’s visuals are authentic and resonate deeply with players.
Voice Acting Excellence: No AI Substitutes
Voice acting plays a crucial role in bringing characters to life in Zenless Zone Zero. miHoYo has a history of employing top-tier voice actors for their games, and this tradition continues with Zenless Zone Zero. Despite the availability of AI voice generation technologies, Li confirmed that the game does not use AI to generate voices. This decision underscores miHoYo’s dedication to maintaining a high standard of quality in their character performances.
AI Technologies in Use: Anti-Entropy and Nvidia’s ACE
While Zenless Zone Zero primarily relies on human creativity and talent, miHoYo has explored various AI technologies to enhance different aspects of game development. One such technology is the Anti-Entropy AI, which miHoYo previously used for their Lumi_N0va virtual avatar. This AI also helped replace a voice actor for an event in Tears of Themis. Additionally, miHoYo employs Nvidia’s Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE), a generative AI tech that assists with creating facial animations and text-to-speech inputs. Although it is not confirmed if ACE is used in Zenless Zone Zero, its capabilities align with the goal of smoothing the game progress.
AI’s Growing Influence in the Gaming Industry
The integration of AI in game development is a rapidly evolving trend. According to reports, 62% of game studios already use AI in some capacity. AI’s impact on the gaming industry is profound, offering new possibilities for character animation, procedural content generation, and player interactions. miHoYo’s cautious yet innovative approach to AI reflects a broader industry trend of balancing technological advancement with creative authenticity.