Will Wright, the mastermind behind The Sims, recently unveiled more details about his innovative AI life simulation game, Proxi, during a Twitch livestream. This highly anticipated title, initially announced in 2018, is finally taking shape, offering a unique gameplay experience centered around personal memories.
A Deep Dive into Interactive Memories
The livestream, hosted by BreakthroughT1D (a leading T1D research organization), provided a fascinating glimpse into Proxi's core mechanics. Wright explained that Proxi is an AI-powered life sim built directly from players' memories. Users input their personal recollections in paragraph form, and the game transforms these narratives into animated scenes. These scenes are fully customizable, allowing players to fine-tune the visual representation of their memories using in-game assets.
Each memory, referred to as a "mem," enhances the game's AI and adds to the player's "mind world"—a navigable 3D environment composed of hexagons. As the mind world expands, it populates with Proxies representing friends and family, reflecting the relationships within the player's memories. These memories, displayed on a customizable timeline, can be linked to specific Proxies, creating a rich tapestry of personal experiences. Remarkably, Proxies can even be exported to other game worlds, such as Minecraft and Roblox!
The overarching goal of Proxi is to forge "magical connections with memories and bring them to life." Wright emphasized his desire to create a deeply personal experience, hence the focus on individual memories. He humorously noted his design philosophy: "No game designer ever went wrong by overestimating the narcissism of their players." He added with a laugh, "The more I can make a game about you, the more you'll like it."
Proxi is now featured on Gallium Studio's official website, with platform announcements expected soon.
