What’s happened? PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, better known as PUBG, is about to get a major upgrade with AI-powered “co-playable characters” that will assist players on the battlefield.
- This new feature, called PUBG Ally, was first showcased at CES earlier this year and will be available for a limited playtest in PUBG’s Arcade mode in early 2026 before a wider rollout.
- It will let players team up with AI characters that can bring requested items, help revive teammates, and “make independent decisions during looting, combat, and survival situations—continuously adjusting its strategy as circumstances change.”
- According to Krafton, these AI sidekicks will also use voice comms to communicate with players, understand PUBG terminology, discuss tactics, and adapt their playstyle to support players.
- Nvidia says that the feature combines its ACE technology with Krafton’s research “to performantly run the necessary AI workloads on each player’s GeForce RTX GPU.”
Why is this important? PUBG Ally marks a major leap forward for AI in mainstream gaming and could change the way people experience online games.
- These AI companions could make solo gaming more enjoyable and even help fill empty squad slots without affecting team dynamics.
- Since the feature relies on an on-device Small Language Model (SLM) that runs directly on players’ RTX GPUs, it could deliver faster, real-time adaptive AI behavior with low latency.
- This innovation could also pave the way for similar smart Non-Player Characters (NPCs) and co-op systems in future titles that could reshape how AI interacts with players in modern games.
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Why should I care? If you’re sick of random teammates ruining your game, PUBG Ally might finally give you a squadmate you can count on.
- The AI companions will help you grab the loot you need, revive you when you’re down, and even act as a decoy in the final circle for a clutch victory.
- Depending on how well Krafton pulls it off, PUBG Ally could fundamentally change how you play duo or squad matches.
What’s next? Krafton plans to kick off the first playtest for PUBG Ally early next year, and it will initially be available in the Arcade mode. Based on the feedback received during the playtest, the publisher will refine and optimize the feature before a full-scale release.
