AI and Games | Tommy Thompson | Substack

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Case Studies

Snowcap: Ubisoft's AI-Powered GPU Profiler

A plugin for the Snowdrop engine, Snowcap estimates GPU performance for consoles in real-time using a trained AI model.

Feb 6 • Tommy Thompson

How the 'Beast' Works in Amnesia: The Bunker

We chat with the developers at Frictional Games about how it all works.

Dec 9, 2025 • Tommy Thompson

MLMove: The LLM Trained to Play Counter-Strike

We chat with Dr David Durst about his PhD project to train a 'language model of movement'

Oct 10, 2025 • Tommy Thompson

How Speeders in Star Wars Outlaws Are Powered by Machine Learning

Training AI to learn to drive, or... hover?

May 30, 2025 • Tommy Thompson

Weekly Newsletter

Supercell's Big 2026 Plans for Their AI Innovation Lab | 18/02/26

We chat with the Finnish mobile giant about this years innovation lab - open for applications until February 22nd.

Feb 19 • Tommy Thompson

Chappell Roan Flies the Flag for Anti-AI Sentiment | 11/02/26

Our regular update on in-production projects for premium subscribers. Plus Take-Two insists GTA6 will be free of generative AI, Chappell Roan’s Fortnite…

Feb 11 • Tommy Thompson

Genie 3 Spooks Games Investors (For No Reason Whatsoever) | 04/02/26

Sponsored by Lingotion

Feb 4 • Tommy Thompson

Bobium Brawlers Brings AI-Generated Monsters to Mobile | 29/01/26

We chat with Studio Atelico about their newly announced creature battler.

Jan 29 • Tommy Thompson

Separating Truth from Fiction in AI Surveys | 21/01/26

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.

Jan 21 • Tommy Thompson

AI 101

The Rise of the AI Simulated 'Game'

A breakdown of an emerging trend in AI research.

Mar 28, 2025 • Tommy Thompson

AI 101: Introducing Utility AI

Understanding the value of action in context.

Jan 28, 2025

AI 101: Managing the Experience with Director AI

How we use AI systems to govern the mood and flow of a game.

Jan 27, 2025 • Tommy Thompson

AI 101: Building the AI of F.E.A.R. with Goal Oriented Action Planning

First Encounter Assault Recon proved a breakthrough moment for game AI. So let's explore how it works in detail.

May 7, 2024 • Tommy Thompson

Design Dive

5 Reasons Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound gets Difficulty Right

The Game Kitchen finds the right balance between fun and frustration!

Jan 27 • Tommy Thompson

Donkey Kong Bananza’s Simple Design Trick

How Pauline's narrative system is driven by in-game events.

Sep 19, 2025 • Tommy Thompson

How Resident Evil's Villains Reframe Survival Horror

DESIGN DIVE: Pivoting to first-person, makes your antagonists even more terrifying

Sep 22, 2023 • Tommy Thompson