Microsoft Unveils AI-Generated Quake II Demo, Acknowledges Limitations

# Copilot # quake ii

Microsoft has launched an intriguing tech demo that lets you play a level of the classic game Quake II right in your browser. This demo showcases the potential of Microsoft's Copilot AI platform for gaming, though the company admits it's not quite up to the standards of a polished game. You can dive in and play for a few minutes, using your keyboard to navigate through a single level of Quake II until you reach the time limit. In their blog post, Microsoft researchers explained that their Muse AI model family enables gamers to interact directly with the model using keyboard or controller inputs, seeing the immediate effects of their actions. To demonstrate this, they trained their model on a level from Quake II, which Microsoft acquired through ZeniMax. The researchers were initially thrilled to explore the simulated world created by the model, where they could move around, adjust the camera, jump, crouch, shoot, and even destroy barrels, much like in the original game. However, they were clear that this is more of a "research exploration" and should be seen as "playing the model" rather than playing the actual game. They pointed out several limitations, such as blurry enemies, inaccurate damage and health counters, and a significant issue with object permanence. The model tends to forget about objects that are out of sight for more than 0.9 seconds. Interestingly, these quirks can add an element of fun, allowing players to manipulate the game by looking away and back to defeat or spawn enemies, or even teleport around the map by glancing at the sky and then back down. Game designer and writer Austin Walker was less enthusiastic about the demo. After sharing a gameplay video where he found himself stuck in a dark room (an experience I shared both times I tried the demo—I'm terrible at first-person shooters, by the way), he criticized Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer's view that AI could help preserve classic games by making them "portable to any platform." Walker argued that this perspective shows a deep misunderstanding of both the technology and the essence of games. He emphasized that games like Quake are defined by their code, design, 3D art, and audio, which create unique and sometimes surprising gameplay experiences. If you can't replicate these core elements, you miss out on those unpredictable moments that make games special.

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