Sony、Naughty DogとSanta Monica StudioでMockingbird AIツールを運用
Sonyは、AIツールMockingbirdがアニメーション作業をわずか1秒の何分の一かで完了させること、またNaughty DogがThe Last of UsとHorizon Zero Dawn Remasteredで使用したことを明らかにした。
Sony outlined its integration of generative AI in game development during an earnings presentation, emphasizing a strategy of augmentation over replacement. The company detailed the use of a proprietary tool called "Mockingbird," which automates 3D facial animation using performance capture data. This tool has been adopted by first-party studios including Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio, appearing in titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. By automating repetitive workflows, Mockingbird reduces animation processes that previously took hours to a fraction of a second. Sony explicitly stated that while AI optimizes data processing, the company is not replacing human performers or creatives.
Additionally, Sony partnered with Bandai Namco to explore Generative AI in video production. The collaboration identified "massive gains in speed and productivity per person" despite current limitations in model consistency and controllability.