Copyright Variety
NBCUniversal has struck a deal with Dick Wolf-backed Wolf Games to develop interactive video games based on Wolf Entertainment IP and more using its propriety AI-powered game engine. Founded by Elliot Wolf, Andrew Adashek and Noah Rosenberg, Wolf Games has just finished a $9 million Series A funding round led by Main Street Advisors, which included investments from Maverick Carter and Tom Werner, and artist Rashid Johnson, alongside returning investors Dick Wolf, Jimmy Iovine and Paul Wachter. The company says that its “focus on using ethical generative AI was a key driver for the partnership” with NBCUniversal. Wolf Games describes itself as different from “other AI content tools,” as it’s not “focused on reinventing how traditional television and film are made,” but rather “engineered to be a true creative partner, enhancing the creation process for narrative games with a deep understanding of story logic, character integrity, and world-building.” On Tuesday, Wolf Games launched new game “Clue Hunter” on WolfGames.net, and confirmed it will be opening its first gaming universe, “Public Eye,” for beta testing later this year, to be followed by a full scale launch. Per the game’s description, in “Public Eye,” “players are enlisted as detectives in a modern world of crime, secrets, and betrayals, where they will work with the sharpest minds in law enforcement to test their instincts and uncover the truth. The Public Eye slate of daily games will feature immersive storytelling that becomes tailored to player choices. Sign up at WolfGames.net to be among the first to experience it.” “Generative AI is unlocking a new frontier for entertainment,” Wolf Games chief creative officer and co-founder Elliot Wolf said. “Wolf Games’ platform is engineered to generate living, cinematic gaming universes that create new forms of daily play with world-class storytelling at their core. Our partnership with NBCUniversal unlocks the ability to expand beloved IP through this model, bringing fans new ways of connecting with the stories that they love.” “We’re excited to partner with Wolf Games, an innovative company that is respectful of storytellers and has deep roots in the traditional creative and production process,” NBCUniversal senior vice president of strategic partnerships and partner marketing Lindsay Vogelman said in a joint statement. “Wolf Games is combining human creativity with cutting-edge AI technology to create unique gaming experiences, and we look forward to exploring how this technology can be used to build out experiences for fans of our beloved IP.” New Wolf Games investor Tom Werner, chairman of Fenway Sports Group and co-founder of The Carsey-Werner Company, added: “Wolf Games is reimagining what interactive entertainment can be – using the most cutting-edge creative tools in service of what matters most: great writing and storytelling. The company will help define the next generation of media by putting fans and communities at the center of the story. I am thrilled to support the Wolf Games team and for what’s ahead.”
