So, who is ANA and how was she developed?  

ANA: The First Virtual Human by Krafton 

 Krafton is popular for PUBG and its upcoming Callisto Protocol. In February 2021, the company unveiled its initial plan of ANA via a technical demonstration.  However, today it has announced something different. The company teased its virtual human, ANA, which will apparently help Krafton establish its Web3 ecosystem.  

 ANA was built using Unreal Engine. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, Unreal Engine itself has a tool specifically for realistic digital people. In addition to that, she was created through (as Krafton describes) ‘hyperrealism, rigging and deep learning’.  

 We will be seeing more of ANA. As Krafton promises, its virtual human, as quoted by Krafton’s Head of the Creative Center Josh Seokjin Shin in a press release, it will “release an original music track and expand her scope of activity as an influencer into various areas across entertainment and esports.” 

 When Krafton previously announced its hyperrealistic technology, it also released a PUBG cinematic video demonstrating the current state of its virtual human technology. In the video, a group of PUBG competitors is battling a masked foe. Along with the intermixed uncanny valley moments, there are a few scenes that come razer-close to true realism. One of the characters, a woman who gets shot in the arm, looks like a clear ancestor of ANA.   

How Human-ish does ANA Appear?  

 Speaking of her appearance, ANA displays a hyper-realistic appearance—blurring the lines between a digital character and a real human. The highly-advanced face rigging technology delicately expresses the movement of the pupil, fine facial muscles and wrinkles, and enables the natural joint movement across her entire body. The company also said, “Additionally, deep learning technologies, such as advanced voice synthesis, help create an artificially intelligent voice for ANA so she can act and sing just like a real human.” 

 The issues mainly appear around the teeth, beyond-perfect skin and her plastic-looking fingers that are gently touching her face. However, the inclusion of these imperfections, including the faint pores, wrinkles and tiny baby hairs on the skin, make her look striking.   

Will ANA loosen the definition of Metaverse? 

 As of now, it is unclear whether ANA will fit into the loosely defined version of metaverse or Web3. In the past, Krafton has tried to tie knots with NFTs and Blockchain. However, in the meantime, it seems as if its realistic virtual human will attempt to become a popular celebrity. In the words of Josh Krafton, Krafton “expects her to attract the interest and popularity of Gen Z on a global level.” According to the company, ANA will release an original music track and expand her scope of activity as an influencer in various areas across entertainment and esports.  

 Krafton will be providing further updates on ANA later in 2022 in a ‘unique story arc’. The images of ANA reflect her human-ish look, despite a few issues with her appearance. Besides ANA’s face, skin and body technology, Krafton cites it is implementing deep learning to build an AI voice that will allow her to “act and sing like a real human.”Irrespective of the absence of a full-body image and a motion video of ANA, her debut could strike the right chords in the virtual world.  

The post Why did PUBG Developers Krafton Build ANA, their First Virtual Human? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

The New States will catapult the battle royale ahead on the massively multiplayer genre for a more futuristic take. Set in the year 2051, the game takes place years after the current PUBG games. The new title also has a new map called Troi which promises to bring new future weapons and vehicles. Some of those include drones and deployable combat shields.   

Also Read: Realworld to Multiplayer Google Earth VR Alternative to its Quest  

The game’s vibe is quite similar to fellow shooter Call of Duty which is a semi-futuristic military tech.  

The all-new version of the game is set to dive deeper into the PUBG universe. The time jump will mean that some of the PUBG characters will have to wait for the game’s release.  

With in-game weapon customization options, New State also promises a new game experience that is a little different from the previous PUBG games. These modes will allow players to modify their weapons in a way that sounds similar to Apex Legends’ weapons.  

New State will be the third battle royale game under the PUBG umbrella. However, unlike PUBG Mobile, New State will be developed by PUBG Studio.   

PUBG Studio has promised “ultra-realistic graphics that push the limits of mobile gaming” despite the mobile nature of the title.   

The new version will be available on Android and iOS later in 2021. 

The post PUBG: New State for Android and iOS will Launch Later this Year    appeared first on Tech Research Online.