Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026

Description

Presented the paper 'What Good Are AI NPCs? Lessons from a Large-Scale Player Study'. This paper presents initial findings from an in-depth player study of AI-powered NPCs. Participants played two different games designed by studio Meaning Machine. These results represent the first half of a two-part study and relate to 68 player sessions across 68 hours. The full study involved 122 player sessions. Using well-validated psychometric instruments including the User Engagement Scale (UES) and the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS), results include: Enjoyment was near universal at 95%. 97% found the game Rewarding. 75% felt the game enabled them to “express themselves or make meaningful choices”. These trends held true across gamer types, from “Cosy” to “Social-Competitive”. The quantitative measures were supported by in-depth thematic analysis of interviews, game logs, and “think aloud” play sessions – showing how players embraced different “roleplay strategies”, felt “motivated to solve the challenge”, and wanted to “spend more time” with the game.

Period	11 Mar 2026
Event type	Conference
Location	United StatesShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International