PUBG: Battlegrounds, also known as Plunkbat, has launched a beta program for its new generative AI teammates called PUBG Ally Duo. This feature aims to simulate autonomous game characters that can perceive their environment, plan actions, and execute them, leveraging Nvidia's technology. These AI companions also incorporate speech models, enabling them to engage in vocal interaction.
The development reflects Krafton's broader investments in generative AI. The publisher has previously engaged in collaborations with a military company on unpiloted robot weapon systems, drawing on Krafton's experience with large-scale game data and physics-based virtual worlds. This context adds a layer of consideration for players enlisting AI companions in PUBG.
The PUBG Ally functionality is divided into two main systems. A traditional behavior tree manages immediate tactical actions like movement, aiming, and combat responses. Complementing this, NVIDIA ACE drives the AI teammate's cognitive abilities through various AI models and tools. This division was iterated upon extensively to ensure responsiveness in combat while maintaining a natural feel for the AI teammate.
This cognitive system operates locally on RTX GPUs with at least 8GB of VRAM. It utilizes a lightweight NVIDIA Parakeet speech-to-text model for real-time interpretation of English voice commands. An NVIDIA Mistral-Nemo-Minitron, a small language model with 2 billion parameters, analyzes game situations and generates context-aware English responses. Finally, a custom KRAFTON text-to-speech model synthesizes natural-sounding voice output. An in-game inferencing toolset optimizes AI execution directly alongside the game's graphics engine to minimize latency.
The PUBG Ally beta will be accessible until June 30th via the Ally Duo Mode within PUBG Arcade. Krafton intends to gather player feedback during the beta phase to inform the future development of AI agents in games.
The introduction of AI teammates also raises questions about the future of gaming content creation and streaming. Similar AI functionalities are being explored by other titles; Fortnite, for instance, already features AI characters with spontaneous dialogue and plans to allow players to create their own AI NPCs.