Mark Kern develops AI-assisted Kun-Zhi game engine

Former Blizzard developer Mark Kern has announced the development of a custom game engine, Kun-Zhi, created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Kern, known for his work on titles such as StarCraft, Diablo II, and World of Warcraft, developed the engine over six months to replace Unreal Engine for his long-running project, Em-8ER.

Built from the ground up using C and the Vulkan architecture, Kun-Zhi reportedly offers a 93-fold increase in workflow speed compared to previous methods. While this specific speed claim has not yet been verified by independent benchmarks, Kern notes that the AI-driven process does not replace the need for professional expertise, but rather accelerates the implementation of complex ideas.

The engine currently supports various advanced systems, including network client-server architecture, character animations, drivable vehicles, Blender integration, and essential physical effects. Kern intends to make the engine available to other developers in the future, potentially reducing reliance on major publishers and their licensing fees.