Rockstar Games hasn’t officially announced GTA VI yet, but they are working on the next installment of the famous series, there’s no doubt about that. Proof of this is the amount of information that is gradually leaking out, such as a new patent filed by Take-Two that makes NPCs smarter.
The patent was registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office last October and was recently discovered by a user on Reddit. It shows a system for improving the AI (artificial intelligence) of the characters present in the open-world game. The documentation indicates that the technology will bring more variety to the actions of NPCs.
NPCs without hardware or software limitations.
According to the patent, the artificial intelligence systems currently in use have “limited resources” for developers. The new technology filed by the company promises more realistic virtual worlds that are “not limited by hardware or software.”
In practice, the novelty could give NPCs different personalities, making programmed routines more dynamic and unique. For example, during a traffic jam, one NPC might try to pull the car out of the queue and look for an alternate route, while another who is not as confident in driving would be more relaxed in the same situation.
The tracks behind the patent
The patent doesn’t mention the Grand Theft Auto franchise by name, but the application includes references to using the technology in situations such as “car chases,” which seems to fit perfectly with the next game in the series. In addition, the technology has been registered in the names of some Rockstar executives.
Among the investors behind the patent, you can see the name of David Hynd, who is the technical director of Rockstar North, one of the main studios of the GTA franchise. Also, the documentary mentions Simon Parr, one of Rockstar’s artificial intelligence developers.
Despite all this, Rockstar has not yet confirmed the existence of the game. The company is still committed to GTA Online and is investing in Red Dead Redemption 2’s multiplayer mode, although we assume that it’s only a matter of time before it becomes official.