A patent filed in October is circulating on the network 2020 by Take-Two , company to which it belongs Rockstar , about artificial intelligence and the ability of non-player characters to move in the game world. Entitled ?? System And Method For Virtual Navigation In A Gaming Environment ?? , the patent most likely refers to a new technology implemented in Rockstar’s next big project, Grand Theft Auto 6 .

Although in the patent there is no explicit reference to GTA 6, which moreover has not yet been officially announced, the technology in question has been developed by Simon Parr and David Hynd , two of the most relevant figures in Rockstar in terms of new technologies. According to the rumors, therefore, the patent would refer to the artificial intelligence behind the non-player characters of GTA 6 and their ability to move in the open world.

Grand Theft Auto 6: better artificial intelligence even for cars

The document, very technical as it is aimed at developers, aims to make the navigation and behavior of NPC characters more realistic in GTA 6 . “Conventional systems provide limited resources for automating NPCs. For example, processing power, memory, and efficiency allow NPCs control a predetermined number of cars in every single instance of a conventional system “ we read in the document. The reference to cars, moreover, seems to be a further confirmation that this is GTA 6. As is known, the games in the series use large game maps populated by pedestrians and car, with a realistic traffic simulation .

“As a further disadvantage, conventional systems rely almost entirely on eliminating local traffic to avoid collisions” . In other words, as those who have experience with games of this type know well, often the traffic is simplified to avoid strange and unnatural behaviors , as well as real glitch , and the number of cars is reduced around the player.

What’s even more interesting is that, according to the patent, Rockstar is implementing an artificial intelligence system that can allow each driver to behave autonomously . “In conventional systems, NPCs are often grouped by characteristics and perform the same movements” . In GTA 6, however, each driver will behave differently because each of them will have a specific purpose and will be influenced by what happens around him.

As stated in the document , “Each NPC is defined by its own specific characteristics for crossing road junctions” . In other words, each of them will move through the game world according to a series of parameters, such as vehicle characteristics, rules and speed restrictions in the place where you find, type of road and weather conditions .

The new AI system aims to create ?? a realistic virtual world that is not limited by hardware or software. For example, can you find someone driving slower on residential type roads or while they are intent on performing certain maneuvers to avoid oncoming traffic on single lane roads? . The new system will also be able to simulate specific cases, such as a high-speed chase . It will also take into account the spaces between the vehicles, the direction of travel and the speed differences between the vehicles, so that each NPC can calculate the most convenient route based on the situation .

Rockstar games are already very advanced in terms of artificial intelligence, and are capable of reproducing game worlds in a realistic and believable way, with a population that appears “alive” in the eyes of the player. It seems here that Rockstar is working to be able to convey these feelings even in the case of NPCs behind the wheel of vehicles and not just pedestrians on the road.

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