Google experiments with an AI-powered gaming platform
techcrunch ·
Google Labs has launched Playground, a new AI-powered platform that allows users to create browser-based games using simple text prompts without requiring coding expertise. The tool enables creators to select genres, define visual styles, and upload custom visuals for the AI to transform into game assets. Once developed, these games can be played on mobile devices and computers, with options to keep projects private or publish them to an Explore gallery. Google plans to integrate Unity Spark in future updates to provide advanced 3D capabilities and professional-level mechanics. Initially available to U.S. users aged 18 and older, the platform uses a weekly token system where free tiers offer limited generation credits while Google One AI subscribers receive higher limits. This launch positions Google within a growing market of AI-assisted game development tools, following similar initiatives by competitors like Roblox. The initiative builds on Google's broader interest in gaming, which previously included cloud gaming efforts through Stadia and web-based games on YouTube.
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