Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news editorial.
Web3 games face serious problems with player adoption. A recent report found that only 7.9% of web3 games have more than 1,000 users. This player shortage, or “player liquidity,” results in longer matchmaking times, suboptimal competitive experiences, and economic issues that impact the studio’s ability to generate revenue and sustain development.
The fundamental solution to these problems extends beyond simply increasing the number of players, which is inherently slow. Instead, creating AI avatars that are “digital blueprints” of player skills can instantly improve player fluidity. These avatars allow you to fill matches with competent players even when the number of players is low, allowing the game to run smoothly, effectively solving the player liquidity problem in web3 games.
This is made possible through a process called imitative learning, which implements a meticulous, high-fidelity process to train AI models to accurately reflect players’ gameplay styles and strategies. It’s not just about enabling AI bots to operate autonomously. AI requires careful calibration to retain a human trace and preserve nuances in player behavior.
Generated AI avatars can compete independently while reflecting the skill level and strategic depth of their human creators. This rigorous approach preserves the competitive integrity and dynamism of the gaming environment.
By allowing players to transfer their skills to AI blueprints, the game can continuously populate matches with these AI avatars, so the gameplay experience is not compromised regardless of whether human players are online or not. This greatly alleviates player liquidity issues by maintaining a richer, more active player pool.
The second benefit of this technology is the concept of “parallel play.” The technology encapsulated in AI avatars allows players to simultaneously expand their presence across multiple environments within the same game or across completely different game modes. This feature not only opens up more opportunities for players to compete and win, but also enriches the gaming experience by ensuring stronger and more diverse competitions.
While some may express concerns that the presence of AI may reduce the value of human skills and competition, this has been observed in games such as our flagship AI Arena, where players use imitation learning to train AI fighters. Reality suggests otherwise. Players tend to invest significant effort in training their avatars, which deepens their engagement with the game and improves their skills by observing their avatars’ performance.
For game studios, this approach promises a consistent and active player base, faster matchmaking, balanced competition, and superior gaming experiences. It also presents new ways to generate revenue, such as guessing AI avatar matches and trading or selling avatars.
There are many benefits for players, including increased engagement, greater reward potential, flexibility, convenience, and a rich learning environment. Players can effectively engage and develop their skills in their favorite web3 games even when away from their console or PC.
Looking to the future, it is clear that the integration of AI avatars will revolutionize the web3 gaming landscape by solving the critical challenge of player mobility and opening up new and expansive opportunities for engagement and monetization. The next era of gaming promises to be more accessible, rewarding and engaging through the adoption of this innovative technology.
