Google and Unity launch connected no-code AI game creation platforms on the same day

Google and Unity released their respective AI game creation platforms on the same day and announced that the two connect: Google launched the experimental Google Playground, Unity released Unity Spark, a browser-based tool built to pair with it, and the two companies call the whole environment Playground. Playground lets users generate, play and share custom games in the browser from conversational prompts, with no programming required, and more than a dozen games that have passed safety review are already on the site; for now, however, trials are limited to US residents, and the ability to create is opened up in tiers based on a user's Google AI subscription. Unity Spark requires no Unity or game development experience and connects to the thousands of community art assets in the Unity Asset Store. According to the Financial Times, it can also generate some assets, but most images and effects come from the existing asset library, and contributing artists receive credit and payment. Google says Playground will connect to Spark soon, while Spark itself will first be released through a closed beta starting later this year, requiring users to join a waitlist; the editor supports desktop browsers only, creations can be played in desktop and mobile browsers, and both are restricted to users 18 and over. At launch, Spark creations cannot be exported to the desktop Unity engine or sold; credits come with a certain free allowance and cost money beyond that, and pricing details and the business model are not yet finalized.