Take-Two Registers A New Patent For Smarter NPCs

TakeTwo has recently registered a new patent that could be related to improved AI for future games. The patent involves a "system and method for virtual navigation in a gaming environment". The news was posted on Reddit after being registered by publisher Take-Two in October 2020.

The patent is focused on ways in which in-game NPCs move around and react to game worlds. It notes that conventional systems only provide limited resources when developers are trying to automate such movements. For example, drivers in games react to other nearby objects rather than the world around them. It is worth noting that the Inventors of the patent are David Hynd (Associate Director of Tech at Rockstar) and Simon Parr (Lead AI Programmer at Rockstar).

The team's goal is to create "a realistic virtual world that is not limited by hardware or software limitations." The new system will let each NPC define its own specific characteristics when driving, for example. An NPC driving a sports car would react differently than the one in a van and so on. 

We don't want to jump to any conclusions and say that this one is meant for GTA VI but the open-world game could definitely benefit from this one. You can find the patent here. 

Don't forget to join our new Telegram channel, our Discord, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, where we are sharing breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.