Former Riot Games Employees Use AI to Power NPCs in New Video Game, Retail Mage

Ex-Riot Devs Unleash AI-Powered NPCs in Retail Mage

Jam & Tea Studios, founded by veterans from Riot Games and Wizards of the Coast, is revolutionizing NPC interaction with generative AI. Their debut game, Retail Mage, casts players as wizard salespeople in a magical furniture store. The goal? Earn five-star reviews. The reality? Utter chaos.

AI-Driven Dialogue and Emergent Gameplay

Forget scripted responses. In Retail Mage, players type what they want to say, with AI suggesting dialogue options. This free-form interaction creates unpredictable scenarios. Want to play hide-and-seek with the AI customers instead of selling furniture? Go for it! This emergent gameplay is a core feature.

Image Credits: Jam & Tea

Navigating the AI Landscape

Jam & Tea joins companies like Artificial Agency and Inworld in exploring AI-driven NPCs. While acknowledging concerns surrounding AI in creative fields, they emphasize a balanced approach. Co-founder M. Yichao believes creatives are essential for shaping meaningful AI-generated content.

Limitations and Future Development

AI unpredictability remains a challenge. Jam & Tea is working to refine the AI engine and implement guardrails. Beyond dialogue, the AI powers item creation. Players can manifest objects by stating their intentions,