Rockstar Games has not yet officially announced GTA VI, but that it is working on the next installment of the famous series there is no doubt. Proof of this is the amount of information that is beginning to leak, such as a new patent that Take-Two registered that makes NPCs smarter.
The patent was registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in October last year and was recently discovered by a user on Reddit. This shows a system to improve the AI (Artificial Intelligence) of the characters present in the open-world game. The documentation notes that the technology will bring more diversity to the actions of NPCs.
NPCs with no hardware or software limitations
According to the patent artificial intelligence systems currently in use have limited resources for developers. The new technology registered by the company promises to offer more realistic virtual worlds that are not limited by hardware or software.
In practice, the novelty could endow NPCs with different personalities, which can make programmed routines more dynamic and unique. For example, during a traffic jam, one NPC may try to get the car out of line and find an alternative route, while another, who is less confident when driving, would have a more relaxed demeanor in the same situation.
The clues behind the patent
The patent does not mention the Grand Theft Auto franchise by name, but the record includes references to the use of the technology in situations such as car chases, which seems to fit in perfectly with the next game in the series. Also, the technology was registered in the name of some Rockstar officials.
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 in the GTA franchise. Additionally, the documentation also credits Simon Parr, one of Rockstar’s AI developers.
Despite all this, Rockstar has yet to confirm the existence of the game. The company continues to bet on GTA Online and invest in the multiplayer mode of Red Dead Redemption 2, although we assume that it is only a matter of time until it becomes official.
