Tommy Thompson
@tommy.aiandgames.com
That Scottish AI and games guy...
__
Founder of @aiandgames.com
Game AI Programmer & Consultant
Public speaker, educator, nuisance
BAFTA Connect
He-Him, PhD
--
Weekly Newsletter: aiandgames.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@aiandgames
__
Founder of @aiandgames.com
Game AI Programmer & Consultant
Public speaker, educator, nuisance
BAFTA Connect
He-Him, PhD
--
Weekly Newsletter: aiandgames.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@aiandgames
Pinned
Tommy Thompson
@tommy.aiandgames.com
· Jan 14
Can we just get back to everyone being annoyed at AI in games because the NPCs won't walk through the damn doors correctly?
I kinda miss those days.
I kinda miss those days.
The mid-2000s led to a huge rise in things like Flash games, YouTubers, and anime, where you're fed smaller amounts of content on the regular.
Millennials and older generations arguably have a different attitude towards media given the rate it was created and released was very different.
Millennials and older generations arguably have a different attitude towards media given the rate it was created and released was very different.
Young gamers in Japan may not be forming the same attachment to Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest because modern dev cycles are as long as their childhood, users theorize
automaton-media.com/en/news/youn...
automaton-media.com/en/news/youn...
Young gamers in Japan may not be forming the same attachment to Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest because modern dev cycles are as long as their childhood, users theorize - AUTOMATON WEST
Japanese gamers on X discuss why classic titles like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quests are less popular among the country's young people.
automaton-media.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:11 AM
The mid-2000s led to a huge rise in things like Flash games, YouTubers, and anime, where you're fed smaller amounts of content on the regular.
Millennials and older generations arguably have a different attitude towards media given the rate it was created and released was very different.
Millennials and older generations arguably have a different attitude towards media given the rate it was created and released was very different.
Game AI Uncovered volume 4 is out now, and I'm excited to say I contributed to see the series once again with a chapter on AI character design.
So excited in fact, that until last week I forgot that my writing would appear in this volume!
Looking forward to reading all the other chapters!
So excited in fact, that until last week I forgot that my writing would appear in this volume!
Looking forward to reading all the other chapters!
February 13, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Game AI Uncovered volume 4 is out now, and I'm excited to say I contributed to see the series once again with a chapter on AI character design.
So excited in fact, that until last week I forgot that my writing would appear in this volume!
Looking forward to reading all the other chapters!
So excited in fact, that until last week I forgot that my writing would appear in this volume!
Looking forward to reading all the other chapters!
Huge congrats to @mackeza.bsky.social on the release of 'Super Nintendo'. Had this pre-ordered for months and very much looking forward to it.
February 13, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Huge congrats to @mackeza.bsky.social on the release of 'Super Nintendo'. Had this pre-ordered for months and very much looking forward to it.
If there's one part of my old academic life I've never successfully translated to my YouTube work it's this.
Listening to me deliver online versus seeing it in action on stage are two very different things.
Listening to me deliver online versus seeing it in action on stage are two very different things.
AI simply cannot stand in front of a classroom, gesticulating wildly and writing semi-illegibly on chalkboards, both of which are key to building rapport and convincing your students you are worth learning from
If people think AI can replace historians and political scientists, I have a bridge on the Thames to sell you.
February 12, 2026 at 8:23 AM
If there's one part of my old academic life I've never successfully translated to my YouTube work it's this.
Listening to me deliver online versus seeing it in action on stage are two very different things.
Listening to me deliver online versus seeing it in action on stage are two very different things.
I've been ploughing through @jasonschreier.bsky.social's ‘Play Nice’ this past week. It's an excellent read, even if you have no real affinity for Blizzard.
I was just thinking how I've played nearly all of Blizzard's releases from the past 30 years, but none have ever really stuck with me.
I was just thinking how I've played nearly all of Blizzard's releases from the past 30 years, but none have ever really stuck with me.
February 12, 2026 at 7:53 AM
I've been ploughing through @jasonschreier.bsky.social's ‘Play Nice’ this past week. It's an excellent read, even if you have no real affinity for Blizzard.
I was just thinking how I've played nearly all of Blizzard's releases from the past 30 years, but none have ever really stuck with me.
I was just thinking how I've played nearly all of Blizzard's releases from the past 30 years, but none have ever really stuck with me.
The Chappell Roan story is a fantastic example of how people value human artistry. We're sick and fed up of seeing AI slop fill social media feeds, so maybe invest some time and energy going the other route?
I wouldn't know Roan's music if it bit me in the arse, but that trailer is dope!
I wouldn't know Roan's music if it bit me in the arse, but that trailer is dope!
In this weeks edition: @tommy.aiandgames.com writes about:
- Roblox’s new AI blatantly ripping off Expedition 33
- Chinese studios are heavily investing in AI start-ups
- Chappell Roan's Fortnite collab rallies against AI slop?
All that plus our BTS update!
www.aiandgames.com/p/chappell-r...
- Roblox’s new AI blatantly ripping off Expedition 33
- Chinese studios are heavily investing in AI start-ups
- Chappell Roan's Fortnite collab rallies against AI slop?
All that plus our BTS update!
www.aiandgames.com/p/chappell-r...
Chappell Roan Flies the Flag for Anti-Gen 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 collab celebrates human artistry, Roblox plagia...
www.aiandgames.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:55 AM
The Chappell Roan story is a fantastic example of how people value human artistry. We're sick and fed up of seeing AI slop fill social media feeds, so maybe invest some time and energy going the other route?
I wouldn't know Roan's music if it bit me in the arse, but that trailer is dope!
I wouldn't know Roan's music if it bit me in the arse, but that trailer is dope!
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
Hey y'all.
A South African dev released a blackity black game during BHM and it's currently getting the usual suspects in the reviews.
Imma grab this up myself anyway, but can we all be some chums and help push the racists out of the reviews? 🙂
A South African dev released a blackity black game during BHM and it's currently getting the usual suspects in the reviews.
Imma grab this up myself anyway, but can we all be some chums and help push the racists out of the reviews? 🙂
“Please enjoy the museum”:
Relooted is OUT NOW!
Please share!
Relooted is OUT NOW!
Please share!
February 10, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Hey y'all.
A South African dev released a blackity black game during BHM and it's currently getting the usual suspects in the reviews.
Imma grab this up myself anyway, but can we all be some chums and help push the racists out of the reviews? 🙂
A South African dev released a blackity black game during BHM and it's currently getting the usual suspects in the reviews.
Imma grab this up myself anyway, but can we all be some chums and help push the racists out of the reviews? 🙂
It's technically a lot easier to make AI clone the work of others in a digital realm than it is to build systems that replicate how we act in the real world.
I mean have you seen self driving cars???
But he does raise a good point: I don't think I've ever seen any AI research on digging ditches.
I mean have you seen self driving cars???
But he does raise a good point: I don't think I've ever seen any AI research on digging ditches.
“Why is AI helping me write a song or tell a story? Send some shit through a black hole; do something that we can’t do. Or dig a ditch; do the shit we don’t want to do. Why is it coming after the stuff that we essentially need to do to be human beings?”
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
Gore Verbinski Sounds Off on AI as He Launches ‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’
The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ filmmaker is back after nearly a decade, and is ready to skewer how technology has taken over our lives (even more) in that time: “Why is AI helping me write a song or t...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:37 AM
It's technically a lot easier to make AI clone the work of others in a digital realm than it is to build systems that replicate how we act in the real world.
I mean have you seen self driving cars???
But he does raise a good point: I don't think I've ever seen any AI research on digging ditches.
I mean have you seen self driving cars???
But he does raise a good point: I don't think I've ever seen any AI research on digging ditches.
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
The Oxford Video Game Preservation: Practices & Approaches talks are up on YT. Come hear me get on my little hills to die for! 🏔🎮
(𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵?)
youtu.be/DPEbH7stxio?...
(𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵?)
youtu.be/DPEbH7stxio?...
Video Game Preservation Practices and Approaches
YouTube video by Digital Scholarship at Oxford
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 12:36 PM
The Oxford Video Game Preservation: Practices & Approaches talks are up on YT. Come hear me get on my little hills to die for! 🏔🎮
(𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵?)
youtu.be/DPEbH7stxio?...
(𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵?)
youtu.be/DPEbH7stxio?...
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
February 8, 2026 at 10:23 PM
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
Nowadays I'm writing a lot about overhyped AI tools that will bring nothing of value to the games industry.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
📽️ NEW VIDEO! 📽️
AI and Games is back for 2026 with a deep-dive into Snowca: an AI-powered profiling plugin for @ubisoft.com's Snowdrop engine that predicts GPU performance for consoles without having to run the game on a devkit.
It's a crazy idea but it really works!
Link: youtu.be/3WvHdKY1ZB0
AI and Games is back for 2026 with a deep-dive into Snowca: an AI-powered profiling plugin for @ubisoft.com's Snowdrop engine that predicts GPU performance for consoles without having to run the game on a devkit.
It's a crazy idea but it really works!
Link: youtu.be/3WvHdKY1ZB0
Snowcap: Ubisoft's AI-Powered GPU Profiler | AI and Games #83
YouTube video by AI and Games
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Nowadays I'm writing a lot about overhyped AI tools that will bring nothing of value to the games industry.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
Sitting drinking coffee and smashing through several missions of Hyrule Warriors. This thought crops up in my head again...
I think I need to follow up on my EDF episode of Design Dive I did back in 2021 (with guest @ramiismail.com) on why as someone who talks so much about making smart AI in games, I just love playing franchises like this and Dynasty Warriors that are full of AI fodder.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s74k...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s74k...
Why Earth Defense Force is the Perfect Videogame - with guest Rami Ismail | Design Dive
YouTube video by AI and Games
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Sitting drinking coffee and smashing through several missions of Hyrule Warriors. This thought crops up in my head again...
Nowadays I'm writing a lot about overhyped AI tools that will bring nothing of value to the games industry.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
📽️ NEW VIDEO! 📽️
AI and Games is back for 2026 with a deep-dive into Snowca: an AI-powered profiling plugin for @ubisoft.com's Snowdrop engine that predicts GPU performance for consoles without having to run the game on a devkit.
It's a crazy idea but it really works!
Link: youtu.be/3WvHdKY1ZB0
AI and Games is back for 2026 with a deep-dive into Snowca: an AI-powered profiling plugin for @ubisoft.com's Snowdrop engine that predicts GPU performance for consoles without having to run the game on a devkit.
It's a crazy idea but it really works!
Link: youtu.be/3WvHdKY1ZB0
Snowcap: Ubisoft's AI-Powered GPU Profiler | AI and Games #83
YouTube video by AI and Games
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Nowadays I'm writing a lot about overhyped AI tools that will bring nothing of value to the games industry.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
So it was a real breath of fresh air to talk with the Snowcap team.
*This* is the sort of smart, well-intentioned, and carefully designed AI tooling that helps developers make better games.
One of those weeks were almost every story just annoyed me!
This week on @aiandgames.com we let @tommy.aiandgames.com rant about the news.
Including Nintendo holding off on price increases, Bitmagic’s AI-driven game engine (and Civilisation clone), Sony's AI podcasts, and the ridiculously overblown response to Genie 3.
www.aiandgames.com/p/genie-3-sp...
Including Nintendo holding off on price increases, Bitmagic’s AI-driven game engine (and Civilisation clone), Sony's AI podcasts, and the ridiculously overblown response to Genie 3.
www.aiandgames.com/p/genie-3-sp...
Genie 3 Spooks Games Investors (For No Reason Whatsoever) | 04/02/26
Sponsored by Lingotion
www.aiandgames.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:32 PM
One of those weeks were almost every story just annoyed me!
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
A small but deeply meaningful local project - digitising issues of 90s Scottish trans magazine The Tartan Skirt so all of us can access them.
It's a really modest fundraising target with a significant outcome, please share or contribute if you can!
It's a really modest fundraising target with a significant outcome, please share or contribute if you can!
Donate to Help The Tartan Skirt Go Digital, organized by Julia Gordon
Hi, I'm Julia Gordon and for several years in the 90s I was involved in working for wide… Julia Gordon needs your support for Help The Tartan Skirt Go Digital
www.gofundme.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:48 PM
A small but deeply meaningful local project - digitising issues of 90s Scottish trans magazine The Tartan Skirt so all of us can access them.
It's a really modest fundraising target with a significant outcome, please share or contribute if you can!
It's a really modest fundraising target with a significant outcome, please share or contribute if you can!
My former? Trans-ed.
My core? Armored.
My scrolls? Elder.
January 31, 2026 at 9:18 AM
My former? Trans-ed.
Newsletter was a little later than planned this week given we were under embargo. I checked out a Bobium Brawlers: a new mobile game where you craft a deck of monsters for battle - but you design them using generative AI.
The studio is keen to prove you can use Gen AI the right way for games.
The studio is keen to prove you can use Gen AI the right way for games.
Today @studioatelico.bsky.social announced 'Bobium Brawlers': an iOS card battler where you design deck of monsters using genAI.
@tommy.aiandgames.com chats with CEO Piero Molino about their mission to prove you can deploy Generative AI ethically in a video game.
www.aiandgames.com/p/bobium-bra...
@tommy.aiandgames.com chats with CEO Piero Molino about their mission to prove you can deploy Generative AI ethically in a video game.
www.aiandgames.com/p/bobium-bra...
Bobium Brawlers Brings AI-Generated Monsters to Mobile | 29/01/26
We chat with Studio Atelico about their newly announced creature battler.
www.aiandgames.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Newsletter was a little later than planned this week given we were under embargo. I checked out a Bobium Brawlers: a new mobile game where you craft a deck of monsters for battle - but you design them using generative AI.
The studio is keen to prove you can use Gen AI the right way for games.
The studio is keen to prove you can use Gen AI the right way for games.
Alright I'm on the train back to London now. So if you're itching to ask me something ranging from the serious to the benign now is the time!
On the train(s) to Manchester for @gamerepublic.bsky.social's '2026 Trends and Opportunities' event in Manchester.
I'm hosting an AMA on the @aiandgames.com YouTube community tab while I'm traveling. Send in a question!
youtube.com/post/Ugkx9cv...
I'm hosting an AMA on the @aiandgames.com YouTube community tab while I'm traveling. Send in a question!
youtube.com/post/Ugkx9cv...
January 28, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Alright I'm on the train back to London now. So if you're itching to ask me something ranging from the serious to the benign now is the time!
On the train(s) to Manchester for @gamerepublic.bsky.social's '2026 Trends and Opportunities' event in Manchester.
I'm hosting an AMA on the @aiandgames.com YouTube community tab while I'm traveling. Send in a question!
youtube.com/post/Ugkx9cv...
I'm hosting an AMA on the @aiandgames.com YouTube community tab while I'm traveling. Send in a question!
youtube.com/post/Ugkx9cv...
January 28, 2026 at 10:22 AM
On the train(s) to Manchester for @gamerepublic.bsky.social's '2026 Trends and Opportunities' event in Manchester.
I'm hosting an AMA on the @aiandgames.com YouTube community tab while I'm traveling. Send in a question!
youtube.com/post/Ugkx9cv...
I'm hosting an AMA on the @aiandgames.com YouTube community tab while I'm traveling. Send in a question!
youtube.com/post/Ugkx9cv...
After having to listen to Peter Kyle talk out his ass for a year about AI I was kinda hoping the new technology secretary might have a more practical and meaningful approach.
January 28, 2026 at 10:09 AM
After having to listen to Peter Kyle talk out his ass for a year about AI I was kinda hoping the new technology secretary might have a more practical and meaningful approach.
Kicking off my 2026 video output with something chill. I wanted to talk about how remarkably accessible Ragebound is given Ninja Gaiden is a notoriously challenging and difficult series to play.
It's doing some small but simple things that help you define your own difficulty curve. It's neat!
It's doing some small but simple things that help you define your own difficulty curve. It's neat!
Design Dive returns as @tommy.aiandgames.com chats about Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound - one of his favourite games from 2025 - and how it provides a range of difficulty and accessibility options to help people face off against wave after wave of brutal enemies.
Watch:
youtu.be/EgJmvtCyplo
Watch:
youtu.be/EgJmvtCyplo
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound's Self-Serve Difficulty is Great | Design Dive
YouTube video by AI and Games
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Kicking off my 2026 video output with something chill. I wanted to talk about how remarkably accessible Ragebound is given Ninja Gaiden is a notoriously challenging and difficult series to play.
It's doing some small but simple things that help you define your own difficulty curve. It's neat!
It's doing some small but simple things that help you define your own difficulty curve. It's neat!
Yeah so I might be giving a keynote on that there "AI disruption" at the Devcom leadership summit next month.
Currently trying to balance between writing something scathing, anarchic and succinctly informative.
Aye, it's an interesting balance to strike.
Currently trying to balance between writing something scathing, anarchic and succinctly informative.
Aye, it's an interesting balance to strike.
January 26, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Yeah so I might be giving a keynote on that there "AI disruption" at the Devcom leadership summit next month.
Currently trying to balance between writing something scathing, anarchic and succinctly informative.
Aye, it's an interesting balance to strike.
Currently trying to balance between writing something scathing, anarchic and succinctly informative.
Aye, it's an interesting balance to strike.
The Dynasty Warriors series has recently become my new guilty pleasure. But I'm really digging how Hyrule Warriors 2 and 3 are prequels and expansions on BotW and TotK's storylines.
Also, Age of Imprisonment is the second game in recent memory where Zelda is the protagonist. Good stuff.
Also, Age of Imprisonment is the second game in recent memory where Zelda is the protagonist. Good stuff.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Surpasses 1 Million Copies Sold.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Surpasses 1 Million Copies Sold
Not bad!
www.nintendolife.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:34 PM
The Dynasty Warriors series has recently become my new guilty pleasure. But I'm really digging how Hyrule Warriors 2 and 3 are prequels and expansions on BotW and TotK's storylines.
Also, Age of Imprisonment is the second game in recent memory where Zelda is the protagonist. Good stuff.
Also, Age of Imprisonment is the second game in recent memory where Zelda is the protagonist. Good stuff.
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
I've actually never been to this, but most of the talks Ive seen from it are great! If you are doing anything interesting PCGwise maybe see if you could submit something?
The Call for Speakers is still open, we are very curious to what you have been up to!
Call for Speakers! We are looking for passionate speakers to deliver a talk during Everything Procedural 2026. Are you excited to share your experiences with an audience? Then we encourage you to submit your proposal: forms.office.com/e/sG6z0eCAyG
#procgen #procedural #gamedev
#procgen #procedural #gamedev
January 23, 2026 at 10:09 AM
I've actually never been to this, but most of the talks Ive seen from it are great! If you are doing anything interesting PCGwise maybe see if you could submit something?
Reposted by Tommy Thompson
It's been a minute: OpenCAGE v0.15.0.0 is now live for Alien: Isolation, adding vast improvements to the script node editor, level viewer, and various asset handlers! More to come!
store.steampowered.com/app/3367530/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3367530/...
OpenCAGE on Steam
OpenCAGE is a community-created modding toolkit for Alien: Isolation which gives access to scripting, assets, configurations, and behaviour trees.
store.steampowered.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:26 PM
It's been a minute: OpenCAGE v0.15.0.0 is now live for Alien: Isolation, adding vast improvements to the script node editor, level viewer, and various asset handlers! More to come!
store.steampowered.com/app/3367530/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3367530/...