Square Enix has announced a collaboration with Google to integrate the Gemini artificial intelligence into its popular Dragon Quest X franchise. A forthcoming update will introduce the “Chatty Slime” – a companion designed to have a voice and dynamically interact with players, helping to alleviate feelings of loneliness in the virtual world.
Takashi Anzai from Square Enix explained that voices are automatically generated when players communicate with the Slime. This AI not only initiates dialogue but also analyzes on-screen events to react appropriately to in-game achievements, such as defeating powerful enemies.
The use of AI for character voice acting and dynamic interaction with the game world is not an entirely new concept; similar technologies have previously been implemented in games like Fortnite and Where Winds Meet. Square Enix has not yet provided details regarding potential limitations on the AI’s speech, or whether such boundaries exist at all. The PC and console versions of Dragon Quest X will serve as an experimental platform for the publisher in the realm of advanced artificial intelligence integration.