King Utilizes AI to Accelerate Development of New Candy Crush Levels

King has been leveraging machine learning and AI technology for over five years to enhance and expedite game development. The company's AI Labs, led by Sahar Asadi, has introduced AI tools that are being utilized in games such as Candy Crush. One of these tools, a playtesting bot, has significantly impacted the development of the popular mobile game. The bot provides designers with an understanding of the gameplay experience prior to releasing a level, allowing them to refine it if necessary. The bot can also make automatic refinements based on designer input, streamlining the iteration process. This has resulted in a 50% reduction in manual tweaks and a 50% increase in the speed of level development. The bot's ability to replicate human-like behavior is key to its success, and it has been trained on vast amounts of player data to learn patterns and predict human-like responses. The impact of the bot extends beyond speed, as it also helps ensure the quality of released levels. While there may be concerns about the role of designers in the face of AI-assisted development, Asadi emphasizes that designers are still essential, and the bot is intended to be a co-pilot, providing insights to inform design decisions. The collaboration between designers and AI tools is crucial, and Asadi believes that AI will augment the design process, allowing designers to focus on creative and innovative aspects of game development. As the games industry continues to evolve, King's early investment in AI technology has positioned the company to capitalize on new opportunities, and Asadi advises other studios to consider how they can integrate AI solutions into their games.