Google debuts new 'experimental' AI game platform named Google Playground

Google announced Google Playground, an "experimental gaming platform" that lets users create, play and share fully custom games with generative AI and no coding experience, according to a Google spokesperson. Playground uses a conversational interface where users type what they want, remix starter prompts, and refine rules, characters and environments as a "director"; the browser-based platform runs games on phones and laptops. Unity separately announced Unity Spark, a prompt-based tool built to work with Playground.

Google is making another big swing https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/google-stadia-to-shut-down-in-january-2023 at building a dedicated video game platform—this time opting to produce one for games made with generative AI. The new venture, Google Playground, is a platform for making, sharing, and playing games made using generative AI tools. In today's announcement, a Google spokesperson described Playground as an "experimental gaming platform" that "Lets users create, play and share fully custom games with no coding experience required. "With Playground’s conversational interface, users can create custom games by typing what they want, remixing starter prompts or getting guided support to help them share their creativity with the world," the company stated. "Essentially acting as a director, users can refine the rules with prompts, customize characters and tweak the environment until it’s what they envision. And since Playground is browser-based, games are playable across phones and laptops." Developers interested in experimenting with Playground can also take advantage of Unity Spark https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/unity-unveils-unity-spark-an-prompt-based-tool-for-google-s-ai-games-platform , a new, separately-announced tool from Unity built to work with Playground. Google's new platform appears targeted to both veteran game developers and would-be game-makers who want to turn their ideas into games without going through the traditional development process. This comes as developers continue to experiment with generative AI https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/one-third-of-game-workers-use-generative-ai-but-half-think-it-s-bad-for-the-industry , but do so with grave concerns https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/devs-are-more-worried-than-ever-that-generative-ai-will-lower-the-quality-of-games about its impact on the video game industry. Those curious about Google's new platform can try the games for themselves here https://playground.google.com/ . Read more about: