Microsoft unveils AI video game tech and nobody is impressed

Microsoft has unveiled an artificial intelligence model designed to generate visuals and actions for video games – but fans are not happy.

The model, named Muse, was developed in collaboration with Ninja Theory, a game studio under Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft’s gaming division.

The move comes as the gaming industry faces rising development costs and cautious consumer spending, with players gravitating toward proven titles amidst economic uncertainty.

“We are already using Muse to develop a real-time playable AI model trained on other first-party games, and we see potential for this work to one day benefit both players and game creators,” said Fatima Kardar, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for gaming AI.

However, the response from fans has been less than enthusiastic. A viral post on X by Geoff Keighley, which has garnered over 165.9K views, showed the AI’s capabilities.

Microsoft has announced “Muse,” a generative AI model of a video game built by Microsoft in collaboration with Ninja Theory.

This video shows entirely new sequences of Bleeding Edge gameplay created under human guidance.

More here: https://t.co/AkM5JXtIeM pic.twitter.com/eSTbKXlleR

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 19, 2025

“Microsoft has announced ‘Muse,’ a generative AI model of a video game built in collaboration with Ninja Theory. This video shows entirely new sequences of Bleeding Edge gameplay created under human guidance,” he wrote.

Fans are not impressed with AI model

The accompanying GIF, showcasing gameplay, drew widespread criticism. “Looks pretty generic and lifeless,” one commenter said. Another added, “That’s cool, but it looks like slop. I don’t think we’re quite there yet for AI games. Maybe in 5 years.”

Others were harsher in their assessments: “Oh God… The real footage is terrible. Bleeding Edge of what? Artifact technology?” a user quipped. “AI games are just going to lead to another video game crash, and several big publishers won’t exist after,” warned another.

According to Microsoft, Muse is still in its early stages, with more details expected at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025.

This isn’t Microsoft’s first foray into AI for gaming. In 2024, the company tested an Xbox AI chatbot for players and introduced an AI feature that screenshots everything you do on your PC.