NCSOFT, Nexon, Krafton, Netmarble and other Korean game companies are actively introducing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve game quality, reduce game development time and even venture into new areas of business, according to company and industry officials, Thursday.
Game companies have been developing their own AI technology and applying it to their content for years, and more games and game operation services using this technology are expected to be released this year.
The officials said the reason game companies have been focusing on strengthening their own AI capabilities is because they can easily produce content using AI technology to increase production efficiency and also improve the product life cycle.
"Even before generative AI services like ChatGPT were highlighted last year, game companies have been strengthening their own AI technology development. This is because game development is one of the areas where AI technology can be best utilized," an official from a local game industry said on condition of anonymity.
"Not only can AI technology increase work productivity in game development, but it can also help users experience more inside the game. By using AI technology to provide content optimized for users, game companies can expect cost savings and quality improvement at the same time," the official added.
NCSOFT was the first to reveal its self-developed large language model (LLM), VARCO, among the Korean game companies last August. The company developed VARCO Studio, an AI creative tool based on this language model.
VARCO Studio consists of art, text, audio, graphics and avatar production tools, helping developers improve work efficiency. For instance, it can be used to create images such as characters, costumes, weapons and monsters in games and also can be utilized as a text tool for creating stories that fit in the game.
"VARCO Studio was officially released to NCSOFT employees in January this year. Not only the game development department but also various support departments are using this platform to help with their work. VARCO Studio is now in the final development process with the goal of being commercialized externally this year," a company spokesperson said.
For business diversification using AI, NCSOFT is constantly reviewing areas and companies where VARCO LLM can be applied, the official added. NCSOFT is already collaborating with external partners to jointly develop AI solutions for personalized news article production or customized AI services for self-driving vehicles.
Nexon also launched Intelligence Labs in 2017 to research AI, deep learning and machine learning technologies and has been conducting research to apply these technologies to its games. In particular, Nexon is actively introducing AI technology to its games, such as using AI-generated voices in the recently launched shooting game "The Finals" developed by its Swedish subsidiary Embark Studios.
Krafton, best known for the popular multiplayer online battle game PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, has been expanding its research and investment scale since 2021 to apply this technology to various new businesses including games, focusing on the growth potential of deep learning and AI.
The company said that the AI technology it is developing will be fully applied to its games this year, allowing users an enhanced gaming experience. In the first half of this year, Game Play AI technology will be applied to its mobile game Defense Derby, it added.
The company expects AI technology to provide a new gaming experience and further increase user satisfaction by providing personalized and optimized services. With this vision, Krafton is developing Virtual Friend, an AI technology that allows users to enjoy multiplayer games together, which is expected to be introduced this year.
Netmarble will use AI to crack down on users showing abnormal behavior and provide features that can check rankings without logging into the game in the new role-playing game Arthdal Chronicles: Three Factions, slated for April release.
"We will use AI technology in customer support to automatically detect users showing abnormal behavior and solve uncomfortable situations in the game," Park Young-jae, head of Netmarble's business group, said during a press conference in Seoul on Feb. 15.
The company added the AI technology-based system, which it developed itself, is designed to block programs that are abused in the game and to ensure stable operation of the game service.