Phil Spencer, Xbox’s Mandamás, stressed that this technology could save old titles that were trapped in obsolete hardware. But not everyone is convinced that this is the panacea for digital conservation

The new project Muse It is, in the words of Xbox, “A generative model the AI ​​model can create visual elements of video games, actions with the command or both”. The idea is that this system can learn from old games and replicate them without the need for the original engine or specific hardware for which they were designed.

Xbox’s first step in generative artificial intelligence

In the official announcement, Xbox clarifies his goal: “Today, countless classic games are linked to an old hardware and are no longer playable for most people. Thanks to this advance, we are exploring Muse’s potential to take the ancient titles from our catalog and optimize them for any device.

Spencer went further in the presentation video, explaining that the model could “Discover the old games, even those connected to specific hardware and make them playable on any platform.” According to him, this advance would allow to maintain titles without relying on the emulation or availability of retro console.

Conservation or simple emulation?

Xbox’s announcement generated reactions. For the company, Muse It represents an evolution in the conservation of video games, but archival experts do not see the idea with so much optimism. Frank Cipherifounder of Foundation for the history of video gamesHe strongly criticized the proposal: “An artificial intelligence model could observe and replicate the logic of a game and this could be useful in development. But to say that this is conservation is like saying that a photocopy of a painting is the conservation of art!.

For its part, Phil SalvadorDirector of the library of the same Foundation, he was even more frank: “Saying that generative artificial intelligence is a great way to preserve video games is like saying that Mirage is a great source of water.”

This skepticism is foundation. The emulation and conservation of video games have been a controversial problem for years, with the video game companies that have pressed to maintain control over their old securities. In fact, in 2024, the United States copyright office rejected a proposal that tried to guarantee access to preserved video games, claiming that companies were afraid of them “Use for recreational purposes”. That is, the industry continues to see the conservation of video games as a commercial risk rather than a cultural benefit.

A step forward or a distraction?

Despite the enthusiasm of Phil Spencerthe reality is that the use of Generative video games It is still an uncertain ground. It is not the first time that a large company has tried to face the Games conservation With innovative technological solutions, but the results have not always been foreseen. Nintendo, Sony and Sega They resorted to traditional emulation and the relaunch of titles on modern platforms, an approach that, although limited, proved to be more reliable than the experiments with the IA.

The biggest problem of initiatives such as Muse It is the possibility that the essence of the original titles does not capture. Recreate complex mechanics, specific physical and unique visual details It is not the same as to simply generate a “similar” version of a game. Until the IA can guarantee total fidelity, the debate that this is conservation or simple simulation It will remain open.

The future of conservation or a commercial strategy?

Until now, Xbox has tried Muse with BleedingA game of the Ninja theory of 2020, a British study near Microsoft Research in Cambridge. Although promotional videos show a version generated by AI which recalls the original title, the true ability of this technology to recreate complete games has yet to demonstrate.

While the idea of ​​creating old playable titles without depending on specific altar -down hardware sounds or sounds, many question the loyalty of these models. The risk is that they end up creating “Approximate replicas” instead of authentic experiences.

While the archivist community is alarmed and the industry continues to curb the conservation initiatives, Muse It could only be Xbox’s first step on still uncertain land. Does the generative artificial intelligence advance at an unstoppable rhythm, but will it really be life that classic games need or just another marketing tool?