Roblox has introduced two groundbreaking AI technologies designed to reshape 3D content creation on its user-generated platform.
At the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, the company showcased the Avatar Auto Setup and Texture Generator, which aim to streamline avatar development and object texturing, ushering in a new era of efficiency for creators globally.
Avatar Auto Setup and Texture Generator Overview
Avatar Auto Setup revolutionizes the avatar creation process by automatically transforming 3D body meshes into fully animated avatars, ready for immediate use. This feature, featured in Roblox Studio’s alpha release, dramatically cuts down the time needed for avatar setup from days to mere minutes.
On the other hand, the Texture Generator allows creators to easily modify the appearance of 3D objects using text prompts. By inputting simple descriptive phrases, creators can quickly generate custom textures tailored to their needs, facilitating rapid prototyping and efficient iteration.
Nick Tornow, Roblox's Vice President of Creator Engineering, remarked, “Our new AI technologies empower everyone, from indie developers to professional studios, to quickly create rich, engaging content on the Roblox platform. These tools allow creators to focus more on ideation and less on execution, ultimately enhancing user engagement and boosting their businesses.”
How It Works
Creating an avatar has never been simpler.
Avatar Auto Setup transforms avatar creation by swiftly rigging, segmenting, and skinning 3D models. This innovation eliminates hours of manual labor, allowing creators to allocate their time toward more imaginative endeavors.
The Texture Generator enhances workflows by letting creators alter the aesthetics of 3D objects effortlessly. For example, when tasked with designing a texture for a wooden treasure chest, the tool generates a texture that highlights its features, such as sharp corners and wooden planks. Additionally, creators can easily produce various versions of an asset in different colors and textures, such as gold, silver, and bronze trophies.
Industry Reactions
Roblox's AI-driven content creation has received praise from industry leaders. Guy de Beer, COO of Toya Play, stated, “For branded experiences involving numerous bespoke avatars, AI transforms the creation economy, offering endless opportunities for creators to realize their visions.”
These advancements highlight Roblox's commitment to AI innovation. Alongside Avatar Auto Setup and Texture Generator, the company recently introduced features like Code Assist and automatic chat translations, further expanding platform capabilities and its global reach.
During an 11-month beta phase, Code Assist suggested about 300 million characters of code to creators, resulting in a reported 5% efficiency increase for Toya Play's development team. Additionally, AI-enabled toxicity monitoring and real-time translation of text chat have significantly improved user interaction, with 19.7 billion messages translated to date.
“AI propels us to create beyond our imagination and fosters global connections,” said Juniper Hovey, Lead Engineer at Neura Studios. “Our upcoming Roblox experience will further merge the creator and user roles, enhancing communication with tools like chat translations.”
Roblox recognizes the potential disruption caused by AI and user-generated content, prompting swift moves toward integrating these innovations.
Availability
Avatar Auto Setup is in alpha, while Texture Generator is in public beta and accessible in Roblox Studio.
Roblox at GDC
At the GDC, key figures from Roblox will discuss the impact of generative AI on game development and user-generated content.
Sessions include:
- How Generative AI is Transforming Game Development: Featuring Hovey, de Beer, and other Roblox leaders on March 21, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
- Navigating the Difference Between Roblox and Mobile Free-to-Play Games: A panel with Voldex executives on March 18, 3:50 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
- Building a Business on Roblox: A discussion with various industry leaders on March 18, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- The AI Revolution in Gaming: An expert panel scheduled for March 20, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Roblox continues to lead the evolution of user-generated content with innovative AI technologies that empower creators and enhance community engagement.
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