Square Enix’s new book explains AI usage in game development, features Final Fantasy 7 Remake 

Japanese publisher Born Digital has announced that it will be releasing Square Enix’s AI at the end of July. The 336-page Japanese language book, with Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud on the front cover, delves into a broad range of topics relating to how AI is used in the game industry (Source: Gamebiz).  

The idea for the book came from staff in Square Enix’s AI Division who wanted to explain AI in games in a simple way that non-experts could understand. The book covers topics like character AI, pathfinding, navigation, and the concept of Meta AI. It also looks at applications for AI throughout the game development process, including how machine learning can be used for lip sync animations, and ways of automating the quality assurance process. 

Full-color page samples from the book show various diagrams and examples from Square Enix’s games (such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 7 Remake) being used to illustrate concepts. 

The book also includes a couple of roundtable discussions between the younger members of Square Enix’s AI Division on new possibilities for games and between section chiefs on the future of AI and game development.  

Square Enix’s AI will be released in Japanese on July 30, 2024. It is not yet known whether an English version is in the works.