Feeling stuck at that tricky boss battle and too lazy to search for a walkthrough? Or perhaps you’re eager to snag all those legendary items for your avatar? Well, good news! Razer has unveiled Project Ava at CES 2025—a gaming assistant that aims to help you improve your skills without ever having to hit pause.
### Meet Your Paid Gaming Coach
Project Ava was showcased as an AI companion designed to elevate your gaming experience. By capturing thousands of images of your screen, Ava analyzes your gameplay, offering real-time suggestions to enhance your skills. In Razer’s promo video, Ava takes on various gaming genres—highlighting enemies in a MOBA or advising on the perfect moment to dodge an attack in Black Myth Wukong. Ava claims, “I will always have an answer to your toughest gaming challenges.”
But does she have the power to make me a Call of Duty pro? Probably not—she’s not a miracle worker. Plus, I’m not keen on a digital voice constantly critiquing my gameplay—I’d opt to become a streamer if I wanted that kind of feedback.
### The Esports Edge
Where Project Ava truly excels is in the competitive arena, acting as an AI coach guiding teams to victory. Its ability to remember enemy positions surpasses human capacity, advising precisely when and how to retaliate. This capability was demonstrated live at CES 2025 during a League of Legends match, as shared by outlets like The Verge. Though impressive, the demo faced some delays in AI response times, indicating there’s room for improvement as Razer plans a larger reveal at the GDC in March.
### The Price of Convenience
While Project Ava’s convenience is enticing, it raises questions about the cost to those creating the original guides. Though Ava efficiently dissects gameplay, it still leans on guides crafted by real individuals. There’s yet to be indication of how—or if—these guide authors will receive acknowledgment or compensation for their contributions.
There’s also the looming threat of AI cannibalizing the guide-writing industry. As tools like Ava gain popularity, the demand for traditional guides is likely to decrease, threatening the livelihood of creators and the very sites that thrive on SEO rankings. Without fresh content, AI won’t have anything new to analyze, merely regurgitating dwindling and sometimes flawed information. Even today, AI can falter. For instance, when I ask ChatGPT about Diablo 4, it often returns a jumble of information about earlier games in the series. Human experts, with their deep understanding of franchises, are crucial for verifying what’s accurate and relevant. Without accurate human-generated guides, AI risks sharing half-truths or inaccuracies.
### Join the Ava Beta Test
Razer is not only unveiling Project Ava but is also inviting gamers and developers to participate in a public beta test. Interested parties can sign up on Razer’s website to experience this new tool firsthand.
