Crafton is best known for games like PUBG and the upcoming Callisto Protocol, but is now showing something completely different, as the company is teasing a virtual character named Anna, who it says is designed to engage a global audience and help create the company’s Web 3.0 platform.
Anna is the first virtual human being presented by the South Korean gaming company since its initial plan was revealed last February through a technical presentation.
Crafton worked internally to create a virtual human being that could be accepted and approved by audiences around the world.
Anna was developed by the hyper-realistic production technology of Unreal Engine owned by Epic Games, the maker of the PUBG rival Fortnite.
And the Unreal Engine itself has a tool for real digital people. Crafton has also drawn on what she describes as hyperrealism and deep learning.
Anna displays a very realistic look, blurring the lines between a digital person and a real person.
With human-like features such as hair and fluff on her skin, Anna looks different from any other hypothetical human that currently exists through other technologies.
The highly advanced facial treatment technology accurately expresses the movement of the pupil, fine facial muscles and wrinkles, and enables the natural movement of joints throughout the body.
In addition, deep learning techniques, such as advanced vocal synthesis, help create an artificial intelligent voice for a character so that they can act and sing like a real human.
PUBG is promoting a virtual character named Anna
Although Crafton has dealt with NFT and blockchain technologies in the past. But it is not clear how Anna fits into the loosely defined vision of Metaverse or Web 3.0.
Meanwhile, it looks like a real-life virtual human might instead try to become something of a celebrity.
” We expect it to attract the interest and popularity of Generation Z around the world ,” Josh Seokjin Shin, Head of Creative at PUBG, said in a statement. Anna releases an original music track and expands her influence as an influencer in various fields through entertainment and esports.
It is noteworthy that this type of virtual influencers is not a new concept. These digital characters have previously made their way into everything from music videos to video games to IKEA. Not to mention social networks like Instagram and Tik Tok.
The PUBG developer is betting that the focus on technology could make its character stand out. It may also avoid the demise of virtual objects.
Crafton says it will release more details on Anna later in the year. Including a unique story.
