And her name is ANA.
Krafton is best-known for developing games, like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, or PUBG.
In the tech world that embraces Web 3.0, which is the third-generation internet where data--driven Semantic Web employs machine-based understanding of data, and Web3 where the World Wide Web would be based on blockchain technology, Krafton is moving forward by introducing its first virtual-human.
Just when others are trying to jump into the metaverse bandwagon, shortly after Facebook rebranded to Meta, Krafton created ANA as its own take for embracing the future technology.
The South Korean gaming company created ANA using Epic Games' Unreal Engine, which is a tool made specifically to create realistic digital people, powered by what Krafton describes as "hyperrealism, rigging, and deep learning."
ANA is designed to engage a global audience and help establish KRAFTON’s Web 3.0 ecosystem, is essentially the face of Krafton’s Web3 and metaverse activities.
In short, her role is to be its influencer in part that she would play in the company’s future goals related to next-gen internet and associated businesses.
Because of this, ANA is not only for show, as she can also talk, sing, and move like a human.
"With human-like features, such as the baby hairs and fluff on her skin, ANA truly looks unlike any other virtual human that currently exists through other technologies. 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 the entire body," is how Krafton is describing her on a website post.
Krafton first disclosed its goal of creating a virtual person back in February 2022 through a technical demonstration.
And here, the company hopes that ANA cam be accepted and approved by its audiences all over the world.
"ANA is a hyper-realistic virtual human created by KRAFTON’s unparalleled technology," said Josh Seokjin Shin, Head of the Creative Center of Krafton.
"We expect her to attract the interest and popularity of Gen Z around the world. ANA will release an original music track and expand her scope of activity as an influencer into various areas across entertainment and esports."
This type of virtual influencer isn’t a new concept, of course.
There are other companies that have developed their own digital assistants to represent themselves to the world and their audience.
But unlike others, Krafton designed ANA purposely to be its face for the future internet, saying specifically that ANA is its representation for Web3.
The company even planned to include ANA "a unique story arc."
At its initial debut, ANA looks like a sporty chic Asian girl at her teenage years, wearing earrings and pale purple-colored hair.
