Blockchain-based gaming franchise Illuvium is set to upgrade its in-game non-playable characters (NPCs) through a new partnership with Virtuals — the protocol behind viral social AI agents on X, including AIXBT.
The collaboration will see Virtual’s G.A.M.E AI model framework power NPCs within Illuvium’s trio of games (still in beta), giving them the ability to dynamically change up dialogue, quests or challenges depending on a player’s actions.
“Imagine this: You walk into a bar. The bartender agent dreams of being the most devoted husband. In a traditional game, your options might be to buy a drink or play a song. In an agent-driven world, you could insult his wife, sparking his anger, leading him to attack you,” the team behind the Virtuals Protocol wrote in a Jan. 7 X post.
🌟 We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with @virtuals_io, powered by the cutting-edge G.A.M.E Framework! Together, we’re revolutionising the intersection of AI and Web3 gaming, pushing the boundaries of immersive experiences. 1/7 pic.twitter.com/Nka4w7J7ty
— Illuvium (@illuviumio) January 7, 2025
The player’s actions could also change their game experience depending on how they interact with the agents, which could include attacking agents to alter the dynamics of an area or treating them kindly, which could garner bespoke rewards or quests.
“Multiply this emergent complexity across every agent, in every scenario, and you get a gaming experience filled with infinite stories.”
Illuvium said in an announcement that the tech would be rolled out on Overworld, a third-person exploration game set on an alien planet called Illuvium, where players (known as rangers) discover and collect creatures known as Illuvials — which can be used in a separate battler game Illuvium: Arena.
It added the AI tech can be expected across all three of its games, which also includes Illuvium Zero — a base-building game where players generate resources and skins for use in Overworld and Arena.
“We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with them on this transformative framework for our up-and-coming MMO Lite,” said Illuvium co-founder and CEO Kieran Warwick.
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“Earlier this year, while pioneering Agentic NPCs in Roblox, we envisioned a future where AAA games like Illuvium could harness this technology to fuel an explosion of dynamic content,” said Virtuals Protocol co-founder Ether Mage.
“Partnering with Illuvium as our first gaming collaboration marks a major milestone for Virtuals.”
Virtuals said AI agents can transcend individual games, remembering their interactions with a player across multiple platforms.
“One moment, they’re battling bosses with you in Elden Ring. The next, they’re building shelters with you in Minecraft or assisting with tactics and commentating during your Dota matches.”
The Virtuals Protocol — a project that enables users to launch AI agents — surged in popularity toward the end of 2024, with its native token Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) rising almost 9,900% in the last two months to hit an all-time high of $5.07.
One of the most popular AI agents on the platform is AIXBT, an AI influencer focused on the crypto trading space that provides market updates and insight.
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