Illuvium, a prominent Ethereum game franchise, is gearing up to enhance its non-playable characters (NPCs) by leveraging the popular AI agent, Virtuals Protocol. Virtuals Protocol has been making waves in the AI space recently, especially after simplifying the process of creating AI agents, leading to the emergence of some beloved characters on Crypto Twitter.
The Virtuals Protocol utilizes its cutting-edge G.A.M.E large language model framework to empower AI agents. One of its most successful creations, AiXBT (AIXBT), boasts a market cap of $489 million and a substantial following of over 320,000 on X (formerly Twitter).
Illuvium, known for its trio of gaming titles released in 2024 (Overworld, Arena, and Zero), is set to integrate Virtuals technology into its games. These titles cover a range of genres, including an open-world survival multiplayer game, an auto-battler, and a city builder. The implementation of Virtuals tech aims to enhance gameplay and interactions with NPCs, offering more dynamic questing, storytelling, and deeper NPC relationships.
In a recent partnership announcement, Illuvium expressed excitement about collaborating with Virtuals Protocol and utilizing the G.A.M.E framework to push the boundaries of AI and Web3 gaming. The first game within the franchise to implement this technology will be the evolving open-world survival game, Overworld.
Kieran Warwick, co-founder of Illuvium, acknowledged concerns about the franchise’s gameplay and outlined plans for improvement. These plans include focusing on one game at a time, reducing microtransactions, and refining Overworld into a more streamlined and accessible experience resembling a massively multiplayer online game (MMO lite).
Ether Mage, the pseudonymous co-founder of Virtuals Protocol, praised Illuvium’s immersive world and emphasized the potential of AI-driven gaming. The Virtuals token (VIRTUAL) operates on the Ethereum network, with AI agent tokens minted on the layer-2 network Base. VIRTUAL has experienced a 117% surge in value over the past 30 days, currently priced at $3.74.
Overall, the collaboration between Illuvium and Virtuals Protocol signifies a significant step forward in the integration of AI technology within the gaming industry. With Virtuals’ innovative framework at play, players can expect a more immersive and engaging gaming experience in the near future.
This article has been edited by Andrew Hayward.