The impact of AI on electronic gaming came into focus on the first day of BEYOND Expo’s consumer technology summit, which began this morning at the Venetian.
Reuter’s Josh Ye moderated a conversation between Mario Ho, the chairman of esports organisation NIP Group, and David Lee, the CEO of NEX, a firm that develops motion-based video games.
During the discussion, Lee spoke about a new product called NEX playground that has a camera AI chip that can track motion. The feature “can unlock a new realm of possibilities…and unblock multiplayer family fun games without using multiple controllers,” he said.
Ho pointed out that AI was “going to revolutionise gaming” and cited examples such as Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset.
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With regard to future trends, Ho said that he was most excited by AI-generated non-player characters (NPCs), who will heighten the complexity of games, as they will each be unique, unlike those that appeared in titles from the past. He also said that VR and motion control will change the development of esports, as players “have to move [their] body in order to win or even participate.”
Lee, on the other hand, said he was excited by the ability of AI to increase the reach of computer games to other age groups, “covering the old [and] young audience” through capabilities such as motion control. He mentioned the importance of bringing immersive games to all corners of the household.
Both participants stressed the importance of content for entrepreneurs hoping to break into the industry, with Lee stressing that they should find “the ultimate form of the experience,” citing motion tracking in the classic game Fruit Ninja as an example.
Ho said that AI was also revolutionsing e-sports analytics, allowing players to train with bots that can mimic their opponents. He acknowledged that in comparison to traditional sports, however, the use of AI in esports was still “lagging behind.”
Lee stressed the importance of AI in training sports players and developing an interest in physical activities among children, mentioning that “we created an [motioning tracking] app…using AI to train new athletes,” in addition to one geared towards a younger audience.
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Speaking of the global esports industry, Ho said that “the Asian esports market is already on top of the world,” with the greatest number of fans, revenue and viewership compared to other markets.
However, Lee spoke of the need to improve the monetisation in the Asian esports industry, pointing out that “monetisation is much easier in the US.”
Now in its fourth year, the BEYOND Expo aims to bring together key players in the Asian tech industry, allowing them to deliberate relevant issues and share the latest developments and innovations.
The event is being held at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Centre until 25 May and focuses on three key areas: consumer tech, healthcare and climate tech.
