Electronic Arts has filed a patent for a new approach to facial modeling and animation that’s intended to heighten realism. Crafting lifelike human models capable of authentically emoting has been a major goal for many game developers since the dawn of 3D gaming, and this may end up being the next big step—for EA, at least. The publisher was panned in the past for the awkward facial animation seen in Mass Effect: Andromeda, but, more than five years after the fact, it seems as if Electronic Arts is eager to improve in that department.
It’s important to remember, however, that EA filed a very similar patent in 2020, and 3D character rendering isn't likely to evolve by leaps and bounds as a result of a single patent. That said, facial modeling and animation have come a long way across the board over the past console generation, and it will be interesting to see if this new method allows for any notable improvements in upcoming EA-published titles.
In simple terms, Electronic Arts’ most recent patent describes a system that will allow developers to capture actors’ faces in more detail by combining 2D images with texture maps of a facial structure. In all likelihood, this won’t make the task of creating the hundreds of models required in a huge game like Dragon Age: Dreadwolf any easier, but it will allow artists to make certain cutscenes and important characters really shine.
It's worth noting that Sony filed a similar patent, though that version also focuses on the implementation of an AI system that will help animators by automating the process to some degree. This kind of tech would be extremely helpful when developing large RPGs with lots of different character models—which, coincidentally, are among the exact kind of projects EA tends to publish.
Recent snippets from Bethesda’s Starfield also show some major facial animation improvements, which is an area in which some of the publisher's previous games were lacking. While highly regarded, hits like Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim featured more than a few stiff models and unimpressive animations that contributed to the goofy nature for which the publisher’s games are often known. With many major publishers pushing for more detail and greater authenticity, it seems like awkward conversations with unconvincing NPCs may soon be a thing of the past.