AI-Powered Games to Engage Users: Character AI Starts Testing | Console | Play free games online without downloading | Epic Games Fortnite | Turtles AI

Character AI introduces interactive games, such as “Speakeasy” and “War of Words,” to increase user engagement by integrating them into the AI chat platform and strengthening its role in digital entertainment.

Key points:

• Character AI introduces interactive games to increase user engagement.
• Two initial games, Speakeasy and War of Words, are available for selected users.
• The focus is on smooth integration with the existing chat experience.
• The company strengthens itself as an AI entertainment platform.

Character AI, a startup specializing in AI-based interactive experiences, is exploring new ways to increase engagement on its platform by introducing an innovative feature of integrated games. Available initially to premium plan subscribers and a small number of free plan users, the games represent a step toward creating a more dynamic and engaging ecosystem. The current implementation includes two titles: “Speakeasy,” where users must convince a chatbot to speak a specific word while avoiding forbidden terms, and “War of Words,” a duel in which a virtual judge decides the winner of five rounds.

These games fit seamlessly into the existing experience, allowing users to interact with their favorite characters directly from the browser or mobile apps. A new controller icon allows games to be started while keeping the previous conversation intact, thanks to a dedicated window that avoids overwriting the pre-existing chat context. This move reflects Character AI’s stated intent to evolve as an entertainment platform, aiming to offer users more immersive and diverse experiences. A company spokesperson stressed the importance of making the service more enjoyable, in line with the vision of AI-based entertainment.

In parallel, Character AI is also developing proprietary games to complement those already created by users, such as the popular Space Adventure Game. The startup’s strategy is inspired by successful examples in the technology sector, where platforms such as YouTube, LinkedIn, and Netflix have leveraged games to increase users’ dwell time. Data suggest that this move could solidify the strong engagement that already exists: users spend an average of 98 minutes a day on the app, according to Sensor Tower.

In recent months, the company has gone through significant changes at the executive level, with the exit of co-founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, now at Google, and the appointment of Dominic Perella as interim CEO. During a recent interview, Perella reiterated that the goal is not simply to provide AI-based interactions, but to build a broader storytelling and entertainment platform. This vision also requires strengthening safety practices, with new features to protect teens and ensure responsible use of the platform.

The introduction of games is not only an opportunity for growth, but a concrete demonstration of Character AI’s ambition to position itself as a leader in the digital entertainment landscape.