Rockstar developers patent new NPC technology, potentially for GTA 6

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A patent filed by Take-Two Interactive details a new system developed by Rockstar to manage the navigation of NPCs, with details making explicit reference to road routes and vehicle behavior. The patent application, titled “ Navigation System and Method virtual in a gaming environment, ” was filed by Rockstar parent company Take-Two in October 2020, and was recently discovered by Reddit users. The system described there was developed by Simon Parr, Rockstar’s senior AI programmer, and David Hynd, Rockstar’s associate chief technology officer.

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This new system is designed to create “a realistic virtual world that is not limited by hardware and software limitations”, which is a response to conventional systems that are unable to produce the kind of NPC behaviors that players expect. within the limits of current processor and memory. bandwidth. This is specifically related to traffic behavior; the patent details boats, cars and drivers everywhere. The system described would result in a more realistic and immersive traffic simulation.

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It should be noted in particular that the system means “each NPC can define their own specific characteristics to cross road nodes”. These characteristics include understanding acceleration, braking time and distances, top speeds and cornering speeds. NPCs and AI systems could use these characteristics to generate more realistic pilots on the roads of a video game world.

Without jumping to concrete conclusions, it is possible that a system designed by Rockstar programmers for an automobile traffic system is for Grand Theft Auto.

6. The project is not mentioned in the patent, but IGN understands that GTA 6 is currently in development at Rockstar, so it is not unreasonable to assume that new technology will be produced for the game.Of particular note is a line in the patent which explains that the system is intended for “virtual navigation and management of objects in a networked multiplayer gaming community”. If the system was designed for multiplayer play, it raises the question of whether Grand Theft Auto 6 will be an online experience. If not, maybe this system was designed to be implemented in GTA Online; details refer to Xbox One and PS4 consoles rather than next-gen machines that GTA 6 would likely be released on.

Additionally, the system is described to operate through a cloud network communicating with player consoles. If the system is for GTA 6, even though the game is not only multiplayer, the game may require a permanent internet connection to provide processing of NPC behavior.

For context, the patent includes an assessment of the current shortcomings of NPC navigation systems, noting that limited resources mean that the simulation is reduced in complexity. Current processing power and memory restrictions mean that some NPCs “disappear as the player approaches the NPC,” the patent explains. He notes that current NPC systems only allow a predetermined number of cars controlled by NPCs, and that “video game players would expect to see more than a predetermined number of cars controlled by NPCs in a video game for a realistic experience. ” Additionally, the patent also describes that current conventional systems rely on behavior that has “no high level knowledge” of traffic, which can lead to vehicles not being able to plan blocked roads accordingly. The new system is designed to avoid such situations.

While Rockstar has remained silent on the development of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto, it recently released The Cayo Perico Heist for GTA Online, which was the result of seven years of game development and finally allows for a single player approach to GTA content. Online.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK news and entertainment editor.

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