Ubisoft’s Teammates: The AI-Powered FPS Redefining Voice-Controlled Squadmates and Generative NPC Gameplay

Ubisoft has pulled back the curtain on Teammates, a new experimental first-person shooter powered by generative AI and designed around squadmates who can think, react, and follow your commands through natural voice input. It’s a bold move for a studio that has spent the last few years rebuilding its reputation after faltering NFT and metaverse ventures. Teammates isn’t a traditional blockbuster release—it’s a research project that players can actually test—but the ideas behind it hint at where the studio believes the future of squad-based shooters is headed. With AI-driven characters, real-time adaptation, and fully voice-controlled teammates, this project poses a bigger question for the industry: are AI companions the next major shift in FPS design?

At its core, Teammates is a playable demonstration of Ubisoft’s work in generative NPCs. Rather than operating like pre-scripted allies, the AI squadmates—Pablo, Sofia, and the assistant Jaspar—use real-time systems that analyze the environment, interpret player intent, and respond dynamically to threats or tactical scenarios. The foundation of this prototype traces back to the studio’s earlier Neo NPCs concept from 2024, and it’s all built on the Snowdrop engine, the same technology behind major Ubisoft titles. Snowdrop’s flexibility is what makes it possible for NPCs to adjust their behavior on the fly, using a mix of pathfinding, moment-to-moment interpretation, and generative decision-making that goes beyond typical AI routines.

One of the most striking elements of Teammates is its voice-command system. Players can speak naturally to their squad, issuing tactical instructions without relying on radial menus or quick binds. Call out an enemy flank, and your squad automatically reacts. Ask for help solving an in-game puzzle, and the AI identifies relevant objects or steps. This allows players to coordinate as they would with human teammates, creating a more fluid and accessible experience. It’s particularly promising for players who struggle with rapid tactical inputs or those who benefit from alternative control methods. Because the commands are interpreted conversationally, the system feels more intuitive than the rigid structures of traditional squad-based shooters.

The biggest contrast between these generative companions and standard NPC allies is unpredictability. Scripted characters traditionally follow preset behaviors, only deviating when the game designers allow it. In Teammates, NPCs can improvise within the limits of the test environment. They can adjust to the weapon you’re using, react to threats you haven’t seen yet, or shift strategies depending on the situation. This flexibility opens the door to more emergent gameplay, where every encounter can unfold differently—something that could improve replayability in significant ways. At the same time, unpredictability creates the potential for errors, odd behavior, or moments when the AI misreads intent. Ubisoft acknowledges that this experiment is partly about learning where the boundaries of generative NPC control should be.

Projects like Quartz and other blockchain tie-ins received heavy criticism for lacking clear player benefits and feeling like forced alignments with fleeting tech trends. Many gamers remember those experiments well, and skepticism persists as Ubisoft embraces AI. While Teammates signals a different kind of innovation—one rooted in gameplay rather than monetization—players are still wary of what AI means for creative roles within the industry. Concerns about reduced reliance on writers, voice actors, or designers continue to be part of the broader debate surrounding generative technology in games.

Despite those challenges, Teammates offers a glimpse into potential benefits that go beyond novelty. If refined, AI squadmates could make FPS games more approachable for newcomers by handling complex tactical decisions automatically. They could also enhance immersion by reacting to player behavior in ways that feel more natural than heavily scripted allies. The idea of squadmates that evolve, adapt, and respond differently each time may also reshape how replayability is built into missions, encounters, and cooperative scenarios. With the right balance, these systems could elevate the genre rather than replace human creativity.

But big questions remain. How much trust can players put into AI-controlled companions during high-stakes encounters? Will generative behavior introduce new frustrations instead of reducing them? How much data will be required to make natural-language control smooth and reliable—and what privacy concerns come with that? These issues go beyond Ubisoft’s prototype and reflect industry-wide uncertainties about AI-driven gaming.

Teammates ultimately raises a broader design question: are AI companions becoming co-players rather than scripted sidekicks? If systems like this continue to improve, they may change not just how shooters play, but how they are built. Designers could begin treating AI characters as dynamic agents rather than puppets of predefined scripts. Encounter design, level structure, and narrative pacing could shift to accommodate systems that adapt in real time. Whether this future becomes mainstream depends on player reception, technical reliability, and ethical implementation.

For now, Ubisoft has not confirmed a release date, platform list, or public demo availability beyond what has already been shown. Because Teammates is positioned as a research project rather than a full title, concrete details remain limited. Still, interest in the experiment is growing fast, especially among players searching for information about upcoming AI-powered FPS games or innovations in voice-controlled NPCs.