What is PCG?

In computing, procedural generation is a technique where data is automatically generated through the application of an algorithm as opposed to being manually crafted. This method typically involves a combination of human-designed assets and algorithms that use computer-generated random numbers and computational capabilities.

Over the past two decades, game content, encompassing terrain, characters, items, and every element in game production, has typically been crafted using two primary approaches.

The first involves manual content creation, where artists produce 3D assets and strategically place them within the game environment. Here is an example of some trees created using the standard foliage tool in Unreal Engine:

Figure 1.1 – Unreal foliage tool example

The following image is an example of PCG enabling the creation of environments within the level:

Figure 1.2 – An example of an Unreal environment...