A new patent filed by the parent company of Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive, suggests that the studio is looking for new game systems to increase the situational awareness of its NPCs.
The patent, entitled “System and method for virtual navigation in a gaming environment”, describes the technology designed to create a “realistic experience” in video games, making AI more intelligent in detecting its environment. Specifically, the patent targets driving behaviors of NPC vehicles.
Currently in video games, NPCs can feel only a few objects in their immediate vicinity. This level of detection is typically relegated to other cars almost exclusively, which is why NPC drivers tend not only to collide, but also to objects found in the world. Through this new patent, however, Rockstar is looking to give NPCs a different driving profile.
According to the patent – which was filed by Rockstar associate director of technology David Hynd and leading AI programmer Simon Parr – an NPC could “define its own specific characteristics to cross the road nodes”. The roads in the games are interconnected like dotted lines, joined at nodes that the AI reads to determine its path. This new method would give NPCs a sense of autonomy on the road. If a road is congested with traffic, NPCs may decide to take another route. If the roads are slippery from rain, NPCs can avoid them.
In addition to analyzing weather conditions and making judgments based on these external circumstances, NPCs were able to recognize immobile roadblocks – such as a car accident – and get around them. In addition, the behavior of an NPC driver can change dynamically based on the situation, such as slowing down to drive on residential streets.
In addition, through this patent, NPCs could take into account other external factors, such as speed limits, movement and maximum speed of the vehicle, curves and maneuvers and braking times. All of this aims to create a more real driving experience when on the road with NPCs.
Of course, it is important to note that a registered patent does not mean that it will become part of a project. It also does not mean that Rockstar intends to use the technology on which it is registering the patent. It simply suggests that the studio is looking for ways to improve how NPCs are designed today.
Although the patent does not mention any project associated with Rockstar, it has sparked some speculation by Reddit users that it has some kind of connection to Grand Theft Auto 6. The authors note that the technology is being built for “virtual navigation and object management in a multiplayer network gaming community “and targeting the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Neither means much, but if the patent becomes the right Rockstar technology, it could appear in the much-talked about Grand Theft Auto 6 or the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto Online.
In other GTA news, Rockstar is bringing the seven-year-old Grand Theft Auto 5 to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | Only later this year. PlayStation Plus subscribers playing on PlayStation 4 will receive cash bonuses in GTA Online every month until the mode reaches Sony’s next generation console.
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