AI is now playing Quake II: Microsoft opens Muse demo access

Microsoft has opened a demo of its Muse AI gaming model using the iconic game Quake II. The model-generated copy is available to run in the browser via Copilot Labs. This is part of the "Copilot for Gaming" initiative, where Microsoft is testing the gaming capabilities of its AI.

The game level is based on data from the original Quake II but features low-quality graphics and simplified interaction. Muse was previously shown running at 10 frames per second and a resolution of 300×180, but now the demo operates at 640×360 with a smoother frame rate. However, access to the game is time-limited, and for now, it remains just a concept.

Head of Microsoft's gaming division Phil Spencer emphasized back in February that Muse can learn from gameplay recordings and bring classic games to modern platforms: “You can imagine a world where a model learns to play old games and makes them available on any device without needing to run the original engine.”

Microsoft promotes Muse as a tool for prototyping and preserving old games. The model is currently being trained not only on Bleeding Edge, and more similar experiments are promised in the future. In addition, the company is working on integrating Copilot as a gameplay assistant providing hints and analysis.

Users in the comments reacted skeptically to the project. Opinions range from calling it “pointless plagiarism” to criticizing the replacement of human developers. Some believe that instead of open-source games like Quake II, Microsoft should have chosen ones that are hard to emulate or run on modern hardware.