MetaGames plans to bring more creative AI tech, particularly to VR, AR and mixed reality games, as the company looks to reinvigorate its flagging Metaverse strategy.
According to the job listing, MetaGenerative is looking to research and prototype “new user experiences” with new types of AI-powered gameplay, such as games that “renew each time you play them.” “change” and follow “unintended” paths. In parallel, the company aims to develop — or partner with third-party creators and vendors to use — generative AI-powered tools that can improve “workflow and time to market” for games.
The focus will be on Horizon, Meta's family of Metaverse games, apps and creation resources. But this can extend to games and experiences on “non-meta” platforms like smartphones and PCs.
“It's a nascent field but has the potential to create new experiences that don't even exist today,” the job listing reads. “Innovation in this space can have a dramatic impact on the ecosystem because it should increase efficiency and allow for significantly more content to be created.”
Meta did not respond to a request for comment.
The new efforts come as a blockbuster product remains attractive to Meta's Reality Labs, which is responsible for various Metaverse projects, including the company's MetaQuest headset. While Meta has sold millions of Quest units, it has struggled to attract customers to its Horizon mixed reality platform — and has recovered from billions of dollars in operating losses.
Meta recently pushed its Metaverse platform strategy, allowing third-party headset manufacturers to license some of the Quest's software-based features, such as hand and body tracking. At the same time, Meta has increased investment in Metaverse game projects — reportedly as a product of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's newfound personal interest in developing gaming for Quest headsets.
Meta has previously expressed interest in AI metaverse experiments.
In 2022, Zuckerberg showed off a prototype, BuilderBot, that lets people build parts of a virtual world by specifying gestures like “Let's go to the beach.” And last year, in a blog post, MetaCTO and Head of Reality Labs Andrew Bosworth described creative AI tools that could help “level the playing field” in creating Metaverse content.
“Just as Instagram helped anyone become a creator, [these generative AI tools] “Wouldn't just promote the power of individual creators,” he wrote.[T]Hey will also act as a force multiplier for developers, giving smaller teams the horsepower of larger studios and accelerating innovation across the board.
Generative AI has begun to gain momentum in game development, with companies like Disney-backed Unworld and Artificial Agency using the technology to create more dynamic game dialogue and narrative. Many platforms now offer tools to generate game art assets and character voices through AI – to the chagrin of some game creators who fear for their livelihoods.
Metta said earlier this year that it planned to spend billions on generative AI and created a new top-level team focused on generative AI products such as AI characters and advertising. In April, Zuckerberg warned that it would take “years” for the company to make money from generative AI — suggesting the investment won't change Reality Labs' fortunes anytime soon.