The Future of AI in E-Sports and Competitive Gaming
Abstract
The technological advance of artificial intelligence (AI) is having a transformative effect on various industries. While the sports industry as a whole is undergoing profound changes, e-sports and competitive gaming are seeing their development being propelled at an extraordinary pace. This paper is dedicated to exploring the interplay between AI technologies and the dynamics of gaming. This includes both the opportunities and challenges that can come either to players or to the game developers. The evolving landscape of AI applied to gaming has its roots in the competitive nature and the constant need for innovation within the gaming scene. As AI technology progresses, more and more complex scenarios and strategies become plausible. In the name of competition, growth in AI would force pro-players and their teams to adapt and evolve, thus pushing the boundaries of what was thought to be optimal or theoretically possible. In a reflection, this would benefit a field of Artificial Intelligence, trying to recreate the ever-changing dynamics of competitive gaming.
The most apparent discrepancy between gaming and traditional sports, in terms of AI relevance, is the players’ game experience. While athlete performance improvement is an extensive field with direct consequences on both players and tournament organizers, the application of AI to enhance the player experience will concern sponsors, developers and event organizers. On one hand, AI-driven automation, simulations or analytics could foster a never before seen level of innovation, thus contributing to the popularity and longevity of the product. Revenue-wise micro-transactions, advertisement and viewer-ship would all benefit from the enhanced player experience. On the other hand, there is the inherent fear within the community that AI might irreversibly break the game, being by far too powerful or oppressive. This statement informs the context and the importance of the interplay between the adaptive technology of AI and the ever-changing gaming scene.
keywords AI, e-sports, competitive gaming, player experience, innovation, game developers, automation, industry challenges
