Microsoft patents AI engine to pick NPC actions in games
Microsoft has filed a patent for an AI system that helps non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games make decisions. Instead of letting the AI invent new dialogue, it chooses from a list of actions written by developers based on the game's current state and the character's memory.
In the filing’s own words
Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing AI-driven narrative decision-making management using an AI-driven narrative decision-making engine in an artificial intelligence (AI) system are described. The AI-driven narrative decision-making engine is designed to facilitate dynamic, context-aware decision-making in game environments. In operation, the AI-driven narrative decision-making engine functions as controlled decision engine, integrating with game development frameworks to enhance character interactions (e.g., non-playable characters—NPCs) by selecting from predefined developer-curated actions. Rather than generating open-ended responses, the AI-driven narrative decision-making engine processes structured text inputs, evaluates game state variables, and determines the most appropriate action based on past interactions, character memory, and game world context. The AI-driven narrative decision-making engine relies on a structured input-output architecture where developers provide narrative descriptions of NPCs, environmental conditions, and possible predefined developer-curated actions in structured natural language. AI-driven narrative decision-making engine processes this data using a constrained selection model, ensuring NPC decisions align with constraints while maintaining narrative coherence.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A computerized system comprising: one or more computer processors; computer memory storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations, the operations comprising: accessing character data associated with a character of a game; using the character data, generating a character profile associated with AI-driven decision-making for the character in the game; determining that the character has reached a decision point associated with the game; based on determining that the character has reached the decision point, generating a prompt for an AI-driven decision-making model, the prompt is generated using the character profile; using the AI-driven decision-making model, generating an output associated with a predefined action of the character; and executing a game sequence associated with the predefined action.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- AI-DRIVEN NARRATIVE DECISION-MAKING ENGINE IN A GAME DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
- Publication number
- US20260295428A1
- Application number
- 19092867
- Filed
- Mar 27, 2025
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 9
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A63F 13/67 Human necessitiesA63F 13/58 Human necessitiesMore from Microsoft in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.