At the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC), Tencent Games, renowned as the world’s leading platform for game development, publishing, and operations, showcased an impressive array of its latest technologies, services, and solutions. GDC, a pivotal event for the global gaming community, provided Tencent with an ideal platform to demonstrate its role as an industry leader, offering invaluable tools and knowledge to developers and creators alike. next year will be March 17-21, 2025 San Francisco, CA.
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, the gaming industry is undergoing a transformative period, and Tencent Games is at the forefront of this revolution. By integrating AI and machine learning into game development, creators can deliver immersive, hyper-realistic gaming experiences that captivate players worldwide. Elvis Liu, the AI Team Lead at MoreFun Studios, shared his insights during the conference on the significant role large-scale reinforcement learning plays in enhancing game development processes, particularly within the fighting game genre. He explained how MoreFun Studios leveraged this approach in their popular title, *Naruto Mobile*, becoming the first fighting game to utilize reinforcement learning to train in-game agents. This innovative approach has allowed the game to cut up to 90% of the time and resources previously required for training, illustrating a powerful way for game developers to streamline their operations.
Liu's contributions did not stop there; he also participated in a machine learning panel alongside other prominent industry experts. The panel's discussion delved into the future of machine learning in the gaming world, offering attendees a glimpse into the potential applications of AI to make games more engaging, dynamic, and realistic.
Another notable presentation came from experts at TiMi Studio Group, who shared insights into their self-developed character animation system, MotorNerve. This cutting-edge system combines the benefits of Motion Matching and Learned Motion Matching technologies to achieve high-quality animation generation that is both efficient and low in consumption. By incorporating Motion In Betweening technology, MotorNerve ensures smooth locomotion control and seamless transition animations, further enhancing the quality of game characters and the overall gaming experience. This technological advancement is one of many examples of how Tencent Games continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in game development.
Among the new tools unveiled at GDC was Tencent AI Lab’s latest offering, the GiiNEX Game AI Engine. This self-developed engine integrates generative AI technology, empowering professional game developers to create realistic and diverse 3D cityscapes with remarkable ease. Beyond that, the GiiNEX engine allows gamers themselves to contribute to game development by designing new levels and enhancing user-generated content. Supporting 2D images, animations, 3D scenes, narratives, and dialogue generation, GiiNEX opens up new possibilities in creative game design. Additionally, the engine incorporates decision-making AI, which assists in game development testing, simulated gameplay, and scenario creation, helping developers accelerate game innovation and improve efficiency.
Advanced Solutions for Game Development
Tencent Games also highlighted several advanced solutions aimed at addressing the complexities of modern game development, particularly in cross-platform environments. The development team behind *Delta Force: Hawk Ops* shared their experiences in implementing scalable cross-platform development solutions. These include building high-precision art pipelines and tools for top-tier graphics, ensuring optimal performance on mobile devices, while maintaining efficiency across platforms. The team introduced a unified production pipeline and cross-platform runtime support, which ensures the scalability of graphics effects and performance while streamlining the development process.
Ray tracing technology, a popular feature in PC and console AAA games, has long been difficult to implement on mobile platforms due to performance limitations and algorithmic constraints. However, the team from MoreFun Studios presented their groundbreaking work in bringing ray tracing to mobile devices, specifically through their title *Arena Breakout*. This game showcases the successful implementation of ray tracing technology on mobile platforms, offering players a visually stunning, hyper-realistic experience. To resolve the challenge of balancing graphic quality and frame rates, the team developed an innovative frame-prediction technology that enhances frame rates and reduces battery consumption without compromising on visual fidelity.
Tencent Games’ focus on optimizing real-time rendering processes was also evident through the presentation of the R&D Efficiency and Capability engine team. This team introduced a new real-time rendering pipeline that integrates advanced technologies such as SmartGI, a high-performance global illumination solution, and NanoMesh, a seamless and adaptive level-of-detail (LOD) technology. Together, these technologies streamline the development process by minimizing asset preprocessing and offering pixel-level geometry rendering across platforms. The aim is to provide a one-stop development process that empowers developers to create customizable games more efficiently, with minimal delays or resource consumption.
In addition to these advancements, Tencent's Game UX research team shared insights into how developers can improve user experiences, especially for free-to-play (F2P) players. By applying their A-G-E Model, which emphasizes accessibility, guidance, and engagement, the team provided developers with valuable strategies for refining onboarding processes and increasing player retention.
Commitment to Game Security and Quality Assurance
Tencent Games has made it clear that game security, quality assurance, and studio efficiency are top priorities in today’s rapidly evolving gaming industry. At GDC 2024, Tencent showcased a range of in-house products designed to tackle these challenges head-on. Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE), Tencent’s comprehensive game security solution, offers game developers a suite of tools to address diverse security issues, including anti-cheat measures, content moderation, in-game economy risk management, and digital rights management. ACE supports both mobile and PC games, providing developers with essential resources to maintain fair, competitive gaming environments for players.
Tencent’s WeTest Global, a premier quality assurance platform, ensures that game and application development adhere to the highest standards. Offering a wide array of QA solutions—such as compatibility testing, functional testing, automated testing, and performance testing—WeTest Global supports mobile, PC, and console games alike. Moreover, its remote device access feature allows developers to test games across a variety of devices, making it easier to ensure consistency and quality across platforms.
Tencent’s Cloud-Enabled Studio solutions were also featured at the event, offering developers and studios the flexibility to work seamlessly from any location. These solutions transcend geographical and physical limitations, enabling teams to collaborate remotely without compromising on productivity or security. By streamlining art production and ensuring the secure handling of assets, Tencent's cloud solutions empower game developers to focus on innovation, creativity, and efficiency.
Building Connections with the Community and Talent
In addition to showcasing its cutting-edge technology and solutions, Tencent Games used GDC 2024 as an opportunity to engage with the broader gaming community and foster connections with industry talent. The company’s presence extended beyond the main GDC event to the PocketGamer Connects San Francisco event, where Yong-yi Zhu, Vice President and Head of Business Operations and Strategy at Level Infinite, participated in a panel discussion. Alongside Qi Lu, CEO and founder of Supernova Games, and Stuart Dinsey, Chairman of Curve Games, Zhu discussed the role of global publishers in bridging the gap between Asia and the West.
During the discussion, Zhu emphasized Tencent's commitment to listening to gaming communities across the globe, tailoring content to meet local preferences, and relaying player feedback directly to developers. He noted that Tencent’s approach is grounded in data-driven decision-making, which has allowed the company to maintain its position as a leader in the mobile gaming sector. “Tencent’s superpower has been in working with mobile developers and being very data-driven in decision making,” Zhu explained. “It’s about identifying what really resonates with people in their local communities and being very much tailor-made.”
Another highlight of Tencent’s participation at GDC was the introduction of a dedicated “Career Space” at its booth, aimed at connecting with potential candidates for game development roles. From internships to senior-level positions, the Career Space offered job seekers the chance to explore opportunities across Tencent’s various studios and projects. This initiative reflects Tencent’s ongoing efforts to attract top talent and foster innovation within its teams.
Tencent also announced the GWB Game Awards 2024, an event that celebrates excellence in game development. With gold, silver, and bronze awards for the best games, as well as eight distinct category awards, the competition offers a prize pool totaling $56,000 USD. Developers are invited to submit their entries by July 15, with winners to be announced at a later date.
A Commitment to Innovation
Since its inception in 1988, GDC has been the premier event for the global gaming industry, offering developers, publishers, and creators a space to exchange ideas and explore the latest trends. Tencent Games’ active participation in GDC 2024 highlights its unwavering commitment to advancing the gaming industry through technological innovation, community engagement, and the development of cutting-edge tools and solutions.
For those who were unable to attend the conference, Tencent Games invites individuals to stay informed by following their social media accounts or accessing the GDC Vault, where additional information and content from the event can be found. As Tencent Games continues to lead the way in game development, its contributions at GDC 2024 serve as a testament to its dedication to driving the industry forward.