KRAFTON has announced the launch of a global beta for Ally Duo, a new Arcade mode for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. This mode, available from June 17 to July 1, introduces an AI-controlled companion named Ella, allowing players to form teams of two on the Sanhok map.
A unique vocal collaboration with an AI
Ally Duo offers a cooperative experience where players team up with Ella. The particularity lies in the possibility of interacting vocally with this AI character. Players can issue commands through voice to coordinate movement, collect items, and strategize, making the game more immersive and dynamic.
PUBG Ally, AI technology at the heart of the mode
Ella is the result of the development of PUBG Ally, KRAFTON’s artificial intelligence technology. This new type of co-playable character (CPC) is designed to evolve alongside human players. It integrates an embedded language model, based on NVIDIA ACE, capable of understanding voice commands and game context to react proactively and quickly.
Real-time interactions and responsiveness
Thanks to voice recognition (STT) and text-to-speech (TTS) technologies, PUBG Ally interacts in real time. Unlike classic NPCs, Ella simultaneously analyzes voice instructions and the game situation to generate appropriate actions and responses. Latency is minimized for quick actions like moving, while contextual understanding allows for more natural strategic decisions during discussion phases.
First feedback and prospects for development
Kangwook Lee, Director of AI at KRAFTON, noted that Ally Duo represents a first step in exploring AI companions for new gaming experiences. The company looks forward to player feedback during the beta to continually improve the mode. PUBG development lead SangKyun Kim added that PUBG Ally could open up opportunities for creators and diversify gameplay types.
A continued commitment to AI innovation
KRAFTON reaffirms its desire to innovate in the field of video games using AI. The company recently unveiled four multimodal AI models under the Raon brand, with plans to integrate them into future titles to enrich the player experience. The studio behind this project is KRAFTON, a South Korean company known for its major franchises like PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS.
