Prominent AI researcher calls Microsoft's Muse "overly optimistic" and debunks game preservation claims

Last night, Microsoft unveiled Muse, their latest "generative AI breakthrough," which they claim will assist in "gameplay ideation" and potentially revolutionize game preservation. However, an expert has quickly dismissed these claims, providing a reality check on the actual capabilities and limitations of the AI.

The details:

• In a presentation full of bold claims, Microsoft also shared somewhat grainy gifs of AI-generated gameplay footage from Ninja Theory's Bleeding Edge, likely downsized to mask imperfections. Amidst the hype, the company asserted that Muse would "transform the way classic games are preserved and experienced," suggesting it could adapt old games for modern devices.
• However, the swift reaction on social media ranged from skepticism to outright dismissal, with many accusing Microsoft of merely hopping on the AI bandwagon. Yet, the most comprehensive clarification of what Muse can and mostly cannot do came from Dr. Michael Cook, an AI researcher and seasoned game designer.
• Dr. Cook, a senior lecturer at King's College London with a history of integrating AI in games, outlined in a detailed blog post that Muse is not generating new gameplay or crafting original ideas. Instead, Muse has been trained with seven years of gameplay footage from Bleeding Edge to predict and visualize possible gameplay scenarios based on modifications made to a game.
• Cook criticized Microsoft's claims about Muse's role in game preservation, pointing out the impracticality and inefficacy of using Muse for game preservation. Labeling such claims as overly optimistic and misguided, he argued that true game preservation involves more than just replicating gameplay experiences; it requires "maintaining the integrity and functionality of the original games across platforms," something that Muse is not equipped to handle.

Other Microsoft news:

• Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has stated that keeping games exclusive to Xbox is "not a path" for the company, which aims to allow players to access their games across multiple platforms.

• Microsoft has confirmed that Forza Horizon 5 will be released on PS5 this spring, complete with all of its existing content and cross-platform play.