Krafton Embraces AI-Driven Innovation: Insights from PUBG and Inzoi Directors

Krafton, the Korean publisher behind PUBG and Inzoi, has announced its transition to an AI-first company, prioritizing AI as a central means of problem-solving. This shift will involve a complete reorganization and a significant investment in a new GPU cluster. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the directors of PUBG and Inzoi shared their experiences with AI adoption in game development. PUBG: Battlegrounds director Taehyun Kim noted that Krafton offers a range of AI tools, which are used on a voluntary basis. The studio utilizes AI for code reviews, detecting errors and suggesting improvements, but human review is still essential. AI is also used to create concept art, speeding up the initial stages of development. Kim believes AI can empower small teams and indie studios, enabling them to create games quickly and innovate. In contrast, Inzoi's director, Hyungjun 'Kjun' Kim, has fully embraced AI in game development. AI has facilitated player modding, allowing users to input images, videos, or text to create in-game objects, poses, and animations. Kjun stated that AI provides new tools for finding fun, but it will not replace human game developers. The team is experimenting with AI-generated dialogue and activities, which, although imperfect, offer a glimpse into the potential of emergent systems in games. However, the use of AI in Inzoi has faced backlash from some players, raising concerns about the ethics of training data and job replacement. Kjun addressed these concerns, emphasizing that Inzoi's AI models are trained on internal data and that AI tools are meant to augment human creativity, not replace it. As Krafton continues to invest in AI, it will be interesting to see how the gaming community responds to this shift and whether the company's AI-first approach will pay off.