Infinite Realms Turns Fantasy Books into Living, Breathing Game Worlds with AI
Imagine stepping into the world of your favorite fantasy book and experiencing it in a whole new way. Infinite Realms is making that a reality by turning beloved fantasy books into living, breathing game worlds using AI technology.
The company, which was born from the game studio startup Unleashed Games, wants to license fantasy books from bestselling authors and turn their creations into games. CEO Irena Pereira says the idea came about when she and her team were talking with a seasoned venture capitalist. "We wanted to find a way to solve some of the industry's biggest creativity problems," Pereira said. "Making games is too expensive, original IP is risky, and gamers are getting tired of sequels."
Platform fees are taking the profits out of the business, leading to layoffs among game developers and unhappy players. But Infinite Realms is addressing these issues by finding new ways to connect fans with their favorite worlds.
The Problem with Game Development
"The way to solve this problem is to literally hack distribution," Pereira said. "We're finding new ways to get to players and connecting them with their favorite worlds." But it's not just about making games cheaper; it's also about creating immersive experiences that fans will love.
The Role of AI in Infinite Realms
AI technology plays a crucial role in Infinite Realms' vision. The company is using machine learning algorithms to create a digital bookshelf, where players can explore multiple worlds and collect new stories.
"We're essentially becoming a digital publisher," Pereira said. "We take these properties that have had them in print and we're turning them into playable experiences." But the AI technology also ensures that the creators of the original work are protected.
The Future of Infinite Realms
Pereira is raising a funding round and hopes to use the traction with some fantasy authors to revive the book publishing industry. The company has 18 people, including partners among AI developers, and will grow its own business while still using the same technology as Unleashed Games.
Testing the Market
Infinite Realms is creating ways to test the market for IPs by doing tests with fans. "I've worked with IP holders, and that's like the No. 1 thing that I've been hearing from a lot of IP holders is that they're trying to find game studios to develop games for their IPs, but they're unwilling to provide funding for it," Pereira said.
At the same time, Pereira says that Infinite Realms is trying to re-architect how we think about AI so that it's respectful of copyright and is constructed with the intention of protecting people's work. "We want to make sure that creators have control over their work," she added.