Picovoice

Overview

Picovoice provides on-device voice recognition specifically designed for games and embedded applications. Unlike cloud-based voice APIs, Picovoice runs entirely on the player's device with zero latency, no internet requirement, and no per-call API cost. Game developers use it for voice command systems in VR/AR games, accessibility features (play without keyboard/controller), and NPC interaction via speech. It supports custom wake words ('Hey [GameName]') and intent recognition.

Best For

• VR/AR games requiring voice commands without internet dependency
• Accessibility features for players who can't use traditional controls
• Games with embedded devices or kiosk deployments

Game Development Use Cases

Key Features

• On-device processing — zero latency, fully offline
• Custom wake word training (any word or phrase)
• Intent recognition for command parsing
• Unity and Unreal Engine SDKs included
• Runs on iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi

Pricing

Freemium

Free: 3 platforms, basic wake word/intent models. Growth: $0.004/request after 10,000 free/mo. Enterprise: custom.

Commercial Use in Games

Commercial licensing available. Free tier for prototyping. Enterprise plan for shipped titles.

Pros and Cons

Compare