At January 2025’s Consumer Electronics Show, Nvidia showed off the next evolution of its ACE AI technology, and it’s looking like a game-changer — literally. First launched in 2023, Nvidia ACE introduced generative AI to create conversational NPCs. Now, the technology is ready to make them into fully autonomous characters that don’t just talk but also ‘perceive, plan, and act’ in real-time.
The GPU company promised that ACE AI can understand player goals and react dynamically to gameplay. Powered by new small language models (SLMs), they’re capable of human-like decision-making speeds. It claimed that its AI can even hear and see what’s happening in-game thanks to multi-modal SLMs for vision and audio.
To showcase ACE AI technology, Nvidia partnered with Krafton, NetEase, and others to feature it in popular available and upcoming games. Including but not limited to PUBG: Battlegrounds, Naraka: Bladepoint, MIR5, and inZOI.
In PUBG, you’ll get a new ‘Co-Playable Character’ AI companion called Ally, which can grab loot, drive vehicles, and even engage in banter. Meanwhile, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT is adding AI teammates who can swap gear with you, suggest skill upgrades, and actually contribute to your victories. AI-powered bosses of MIR5 will learn your tactics and counter them. No more memorizing attacks — these bosses will force you to adapt for every encounter.
But the AI will not just reshape how combat works. Krafton’s life simulation inZOI too will have many Co-Playable Characters to simulate how a ‘comprehensive community’ acts, turning your virtual city more lifelike. In more narrative-heavy games like Dead Meat, you can interrogate suspects using voice or text, dynamically shaping the story. Then there’s AI People, a sandbox game where NPCs interact with the environment and each other, creating dynamic narratives.
“PUBG IP Franchise’s PUBG Ally and inZOI‘s Smart Zoi, rising as the world’s first CPC (Co-Playable Character) built with NVIDIA ACE, are unlocking new and unique experiences,” said Kangwook Lee, Krafton’s Head of Deep Learning Division, in a statement. “At KRAFTON, we’re excited by the possibilities of ACE autonomous game characters, and how AI will enhance the way we create games.”
It’s early days, but Nvidia ACE AI could be the tech to finally revolutionize interactivity in games. If this means we’ll truly get AI teammates and opponents who are as smart as FEAR grunts, then we’re all for it.
