DOOM, the 1993 cult classic, has become an internet sensation and meme. Playable on a variety of unusual devices, from microwaves to electric toothbrushes, it’s often questioned what cannot run DOOM rather than what can.
Now, with the help of Google’s AI tool GameNGen, AI has even managed to generate a playable version of this beloved video game, and the result is quite remarkable.
GameNGen is a new video game engine driven by a neural model that creates gameplay based on various prompts. For this DOOM recreation, GameNGen essentially learns to play the game as effectively as possible, going through obstacles, defeating demons, and interacting with the environment.
Once the AI has mastered the gameplay mechanics, GameNGen employs a diffusion model to reproduce a precise image of the game content it has processed. The game is rendered in real-time, with the AI generating each frame based on the preceding one.
While the recreation of DOOM is impressive, GameNGen’s output is limited to around 20 frames per second, which is significantly lower than the 120fps of DOOM Eternal or the advanced graphics of the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages.
Nonetheless, the fact that AI has managed to bring one of the most iconic video games to life and make it playable is noteworthy.
GameNGen’s capabilities extend beyond just DOOM. Although the game engine may not perfectly recreate every game, it theoretically has the potential to reimagine many of your favorite titles—albeit with potential issues like motion sickness due to frame drops.
Earlier this week, Virtuals Protocol showcased MarioVGG, an AI video tool that produced a glitchy version of Super Mario Bros. While it has its shortcomings, this marks just the beginning of AI’s involvement in video game development, hinting at an exciting—and potentially daunting—future.
