Meta is significantly enhancing its Horizon Worlds metaverse platform by empowering developers to build AI-powered non-playable characters (NPCs). This highly anticipated update, arriving “very soon,” introduces generative AI tools within the World’s Desktop Editor, enabling creators to craft NPCs capable of engaging in realistic voice conversations with players. This marks a pivotal shift from previously scripted interactions, promising far more dynamic and engaging experiences within the virtual world.
Previously, Meta has experimented with NPCs in Horizon Worlds. Still, this update represents the first instance where developers will have complete control over the creation and customization of embodied AI characters. Developers can meticulously design the visual appearance of their NPCs, crafting detailed backstories and programming specific behavioral responses to player interactions, ensuring a personalized and immersive experience for users. Meta showcased this capability in a recent blog post, demonstrating the ease with which developers can tailor both the look and conversational capabilities of their AI creations.
For players, this translates to a more responsive and interactive metaverse experience. Instead of encountering static, scripted characters, they will interact with AI-powered NPCs that can dynamically react to their actions and dialogue, adding a layer of realism and unpredictability to gameplay. This significantly boosts the potential for immersive roleplaying, collaborative gameplay, and richer overall virtual environments.
This development is yet another significant step in Meta’s ongoing integration of artificial intelligence and metaverse technologies. With Meta’s Connect event on the horizon, further announcements regarding the role of generative AI in shaping its virtual worlds are expected. To get a sneak peek of these new AI-driven NPCs, users can currently explore characters within the Horizon Worlds experiences “Bobber Bay Fishing” and “Profit or Perish.”
