NCSoft unveils large language model Varco

The logo for NCSoft's large language model ″Varco″ [NCSOFT]

NCSoft jumped on the AI bandwagon by releasing its own large language model (LLM) dubbed Varco on Wednesday, becoming Korea's first game publisher to have its own LLM.

Varco stands for “Via AI, Realize your Creativity and Originality," according to NCSoft.

Varco is available through the global machine learning hub Amazon SageMaker JumpStart and is free for all users for a month.

“After the trial month, the price differs accordingly based on how much data set the user wants to input within the model,” said an NCSoft spokesperson.

The model will be serviced under four categories: the foundation model, instruction model, dialogue model and generative model. Currently, only the foundation and instruction models are available.

The services are also currently only available in Korean, with the company releasing a bilingual version in Korean and English sometime this month.

The model can help simplify and shorten natural language processing (NLP) enabling computers and software to understand, interpret and generate human language in a natural context, NCSoft said.

NLP provides gamers with a more immersive and interactive experience, such as in dialogue systems that allow them to have natural conversations with non-player characters and text analysis to generate storylines based on their choices.

The Varco LLM is the onset of affiliated AI services lining up for release. Varco Studio is a business-to-business (B2B) generative AI platform for game developers enabling them to easily create digital humans and characters as well as generate text in dialogues and plot settings.

Varco Studio will be released sometime in the first half of next year.

“We aim to provide new values and experiences in various domains through Varco, including developing game content,” NCSoft Chief Research Officer Lee Je-hee said.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]