In the ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry, South Korean game developer and publisher Nexon has emerged as a driving force for innovation. With their in-house AI research and development team, Intelligence Labs, Nexon is on a mission to redefine the gaming experience for users. Since its launch in 2017, Intelligence Labs has been leveraging machine learning and deep learning to create more engaging and immersive games.
With a dedicated team of approximately 700 engineers, Intelligence Labs is now focusing on generative artificial intelligence research to deliver original and personalized content to players. In April 2023, the team unveiled their game development solution package, “Gamescale,” as a catalyst for the overall growth of the gaming industry. This comprehensive package offers specialized solutions for security, marketing, business, community, data analysis, quality assurance, and game operation services.
One of the standout features of Gamescale is its game matchmaking algorithm, which takes into account user preferences and playstyles to create more balanced matches. This personalized approach to matchmaking is a departure from the traditional skill-based matchmaking systems seen in many games. Additionally, Gamescale incorporates advanced security measures that can detect any game hacking programs or users, alleviating the burden of security for clients.
The impact of Gamescale on user satisfaction has been nothing short of remarkable. Nexon reports that Gamescale has significantly boosted the overall user retention rate, with users returning to play the game on the day it was downloaded by an astounding 164 percent.
But Nexon’s ambitions don’t stop there. Intelligence Labs is committed to creating games that fully immerse players in captivating experiences. Unlike existing games that stick to a single story or design, the team is leveraging generative AI to personalize the user experience. One of their recent innovations is the “Nexon Voice Creator,” a Text-to-Speech system that can generate voices in various accents and pitches for nonplayer characters, eliminating the need for separate voice recordings.
Intelligence Labs is also exploring the “AI NPC” function, which allows game characters to directly communicate with users beyond pre-scripted interactions. By creating realistic and intelligent nonplayer characters tailored to different playstyles, players can truly immerse themselves in the game’s adventure. However, Nexon recognizes that this function also raises ethical concerns, as it opens up the possibility of NPCs making false, biased, discriminatory, or abusive remarks. To address these concerns, Intelligence Labs is actively developing ethical guidelines for trustworthy AI in gaming.
In their endeavor to deliver an exceptional gaming experience, Nexon goes beyond the confines of their labs. They operate the Nexon Lab, where they test Intelligence Labs' content with real users before integrating new functions into their games. This collaborative approach ensures that the final product meets the expectations and desires of players.
Bae Jun-young, the division manager at Intelligence Labs, sums up Nexon’s mission succinctly: “We will provide users with an exclusive gaming experience they have never encountered before.” With Intelligence Labs at the helm, Nexon continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the gaming industry, revolutionizing the way players engage with and enjoy their favorite games.
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