Activision Blizzard Boss Hints at Guitar Hero Return, Says Microsoft’s AI Analysis Unlocks Limitless Potential

Just a few hours in the past, Home windows Central reported on an inner Activision Blizzard assembly the place CEO Bobby Kotick answered a plethora of questions on the corporate’s future after the closure of the $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft (rumored to happen in simply two days, if UK regulator CMA approves the deal).

Kotick highlighted Microsoft’s analysis into AI and machine studying (on a associated notice, Microsoft seems to be gearing to develop its personal AI chips, too) as applied sciences that may unlock ‘limitless potential’ for Activision Blizzard video games.

A giant a part of what I’ve seen in Microsoft is analysis. They usually do improvement in areas which can be extraordinary. And so having the ability to faucet into their AI and machine studying functionality, the information analytics, new methods of fascinated by graphics — I simply see limitless potential for what we do. When you take a look at the brand new applied sciences which can be on the horizon, we’re going to have the ability to do issues that we have by no means executed earlier than with AI and machine studying.

Kotick will not be the primary Activision Blizzard govt to say that. Only a few days in the past, President Rob Kostich stated that ‘having the ability to faucet into Microsoft’s expertise and suite of instruments would profit our groups to create even larger, extra immersive experiences for our gamers’. Whereas Activision Blizzard is clearly no indie writer, Microsoft clearly is a serious leap in sources even for them.

Sooner or later within the aforementioned ‘townhall’ dialogue, Kotick additionally reportedly hinted at a return of the Guitar Hero franchise as a result of these Microsoft sources. The final installment, Guitar Hero Dwell, got here out in 2015.

The re-emergence of Guitar Hero and different issues wouldn’t be doable with out the various kinds of sources. And so, you already know, simply the infinite prospects for the longer term which can be simply extremely thrilling.

Regardless of all of the concentrate on AI and machine studying, the Activision Blizzard CEO additionally talked about that the corporate might want to rent extra writers and actors to create much more cinematic experiences to appease clients.

The standard of graphics are actually elevated to a spot the place we will want extra writing expertise and extra performing expertise — as a result of we cannot be capable of truly fulfill the expectations of our gamers. Video games are at all times very totally different than movie and tv. In movie and tv, you’re profitable by making a connection that is emotional between you and the viewers — our experiences are extra visceral, however it’s altering. We’ve characters on the display screen and video video games who with mouth actions and facial animation that’s life like — you are going to have a brand new dimension of emotional connection that we have not but mastered.

As a reminder, simply two years in the past, Bobby Kotick confronted private accusations of mistreating fellow Activision Blizzard staff.