Level Up: Real-Time AI Customization for Games
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KHIEM LU (GRAB LABS) AND VAISHALI GHIYA (DENVR DATAWORKS), NOVEMBER 11, 2024
What if tweaking gameplay could level up instantly—no waiting, no restarts, only real-time customization? That’s exactly what this post is about: multi-modal AI workflows, by Grab Labs, running on Denvr Cloud, that let developers and players modify gameplay on the fly. With simple text inputs, they can generate visually stunning, immersive environments, characters, and storylines in a snap.
If you’ve ever spent hours fine-tuning every detail in a game—changing outfits, reworking landscapes, or adjusting loadouts—you know it’s not just about convenience. It’s about making the game feel personal, like you’re really in it. This shift not only changes how players engage with games but also redefines how developers approach prototyping and testing ideas.
Take the reimagined Gold Miner game by Grab Labs as an example. Meta’s LLaMA 2 interprets text commands while Stability AI’s SDXL generate visuals, with both models working seamlessly on Denvr Cloud to power real-time gameplay adjustments. You type a change, hit enter, and boom—it’s live, no interruptions. Want to swap your character’s boots with Air Jordans? Done. No hassle, no delays.
The impact? This isn't just about cool new features. Real-time customization keeps players engaged with gameplay that feels personal, while giving developers the space to explore ideas rapidly, iterate faster, and focus on creating engaging experiences that resonate.
The Magic of Real-Time AI Inference
If you’ve used tools like ChatGPT, you’ve seen AI inference in action – it’s what lets apps respond instantly to input. But here, it’s a whole new design philosophy. Real-time inference makes interactions fluid, so games can adapt moment-to-moment, reacting naturally to whatever the player does. In gaming, this unlocks instant UGC (user-generated content) and mid-game customization.
While AI boost interactivity and speed, it works in tandem with the creative insights of artists and developers to ensure every detail aligns with their unique vision. This approach isn’t just for polished builds. Developers can leverage real-time AI to prototype ideas, explore new mechanics, and test concepts before full production. It’s about removing barriers so teams can focus where it counts: refining core gameplay and user experience.
AI Inference Beyond Gaming
This tech isn’t just for games. Retail, education, media, and healthcare are leveraging AI inference to deliver personalized recommendations, adaptive learning environments, real-time entertainment, and predictive patient care. Businesses are embracing these hyper-personalized experiences to meet rising user expectations and improve outcomes.
That said, AI-generated content raises important questions around copyright and IP, especially as AI tools become more involved in creative processes. These questions don’t have easy answers, and how they’re navigated will influence the role AI plays going forward. Developers should remain aware of these conversations as they explore what’s possible with real-time AI.
Gold Miner and the Text-to-Game Inference System
Gold Miner is a classic 2D game with a simple but addictive mechanic: players control a swinging claw to grab gold, releasing the claw with perfect timing. It’s like the crane games you find at Dave & Buster’s – part luck, part mastery. This simplicity has made it one of the most-played casual games worldwide, and its timing-based mechanic makes it ideal for real-time customization.
In the reimagined version, Grab Labs takes the core gameplay and layers on LLaMA 2 and SDXL models to power a text-to-game inference engine. This engine lets players customize characters and environments in real-time, transforming what used to be rigid development cycles into fluid, adaptable gameplay. Players can rebuild and personalize the game as they play.
Capabilities of the Text-to-Game Inference System
With AI doing the heavy lifting, the reimagined Gold Miner engine offers a range of ways for players to tweak and customize gameplay:
Real-time customization: Modify characters, objects, and themes with simple text commands.
Detailed control: Access advanced tools, like inpainting (drawing masks), for targeted edits to game elements, blending text input with direct editing for fine-grained adjustments.
Adaptive content generation: SDXL handles visuals, and LLaMA 2 processes text inputs for precision and variety.
Seamless integration with gameplay: Pre-tuned models ensure new elements fit naturally into gameplay.
Empowerment through creativity: Players can create unique versions of Gold Miner (or other games) on the fly.
Faster development cycles: Developers can rapidly prototype ideas, refining the final version with handcrafted visuals for a polished look
Creative collaboration: Complements the work of artists and designers, blending AI and traditional tools to boost the creative process.
How It Works: From Text Prompt to Playable Content
The diagrams below show how Grab Labs optimized its workflow on Denvr Cloud. The first highlights the fine-tuning process, where LLaMA 2 and SDXL models are prepped and deployed on NVIDIA A100 GPUs, while the second breaks down how player inputs drive real-time changes in the game through AI inference.
Figure: Grab Labs Model Fine-Tuning Workflow on Denvr Cloud
Figure: Grab Labs AI Inference Workflow on Denvr Cloud
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the workflows:
Player Input (Text Prompt):Players or developers enter text like finding “boots” and replacing it with “Air Jordans” in the text-to-game editor.
Prompt Augmentation or Fine-Grain Control:If needed, prompt augmentation refines inputs (e.g., making the Air Jordans “red”). Players can fine-tune settings for greater control.
LLaMA 2 Processes the Input:Running on NVIDIA A100 GPUs, LLaMA 2 interprets inputs and outputs structured data to define the required changes.
SDXL Generates Visual Content:SDXL uses this data to generate visuals – like new textures or objects. Inference tasks can run in parallel for faster performance.
Seamless Integration into Gameplay:New content loads instantly, no restarts needed, ready for players to explore.
Instant Feedback to Users:Players see their changes immediately and can continue experimenting without breaking the flow.
The result? Below is a side-by-side comparison from Gold Miner.
Figure: Before Image with Boots Figure: After Image with Air Jordan
The Backbone of Real-Time Customization
Running real-time AI apps takes serious infrastructure. Denvr Cloud provides NVIDIA GPUs and pre-configured environments from Grab Labs and Denvr Dataworks, allowing developers to skip complex setups and dive straight into building. The LLaMA 2 and SDXL models work seamlessly, turning text inputs into gameplay changes without a hitch.
Since all processing happens in the cloud, even low-end devices – like older phones – can handle high-quality gameplay. Thanks to partnerships with mobile manufacturers, this tech scales for mass market adoption, giving developers access to billions of potential users. Just build, deploy, and let Denvr Cloud do the rest.
Why Developers Should Care – and Try It Themselves
This isn’t future tech – it’s happening today. With Grab Labs’ optimized AI workflow on Denvr Cloud, developers can push creative limits, test new ideas, and shape user experiences faster than ever. Whether it’s your next game or an AI-powered app, this platform gives you everything you need to bring your ideas to life.
By combining AI tools with traditional design, developers can explore new possibilities while keeping the artistry that makes their games unique. Ready to dive in? Head over to Grab Labs on Denvr Cloud and see what you can build – your next game, app, or experience might be just a text prompt away.
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