Krafton has partnered with Seoul National University to launch joint research on “World Model” technology, a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) capability that spans both gaming and robotics. The collaboration is notable for going beyond a typical industry-academia project—it represents an attempt to extend simulation expertise accumulated in game development into physical-world robotic decision-making.
Krafton held a joint research launch ceremony on the 8th at SNU’s Gwanak campus in Seoul, unveiling detailed research tracks and participating researchers. Lee Kang-wook, Krafton’s Chief AI Officer (CAIO), and Professor Kang Yu of SNU attended the event to discuss the three-year research roadmap and collaboration plans.
The joint research builds on an industry-academia agreement signed by both parties in November 2025 and the AI Star Fellowship program under South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT. The agreement includes provisions for joint research execution, personnel exchange and student internships, and the establishment of a corporate research center within the graduate school.
A World Model is a technology that enables AI to autonomously perceive its surrounding environment and simulate physical changes resulting from specific actions. In gaming, it can be used to implement the movement of characters and objects within virtual worlds; in robotics, it can be applied as a technology for sensing surroundings and determining actions.
The two parties will pursue three core research tracks led by SNU faculty. First, they will research technology that maintains spatial and object consistency when AI generates long-form video, preventing visual distortion. Second, they will develop technology that naturally links human and object movements using game motion data. Third, they will build technology that enables AI to accurately perceive and verify spatial structures such as corridor widths and distances between objects. Benchmark development for objectively evaluating each track’s outcomes will proceed in parallel.
The joint research center to be established at SNU will operate research exchange events and student internship programs, serving as a hub for identifying new collaborative research projects. Krafton’s strategy is to broaden engagement with AI researchers and secure top talent early through this initiative.
CAIO Lee Kang-wook stated, “The simulation and virtual world-building capabilities accumulated through game development will serve as a powerful foundation for World Model research. We will leverage the outcomes of our joint research with SNU to create more immersive game experiences and, ultimately, extend into the robotics domain.”
Professor Kang Yu said, “We are pleased to undertake research spanning gaming and robotics together with Krafton. We will strive to produce meaningful technical outcomes while expanding opportunities for student research participation.”
Krafton’s move aligns with a broader trend of game companies strengthening university partnerships to secure AI competitiveness. World Models, in particular, have recently emerged as a key technology in the global AI industry for autonomous driving and robotics, as the ability to understand and predict the physical world directly translates into real-world robotic judgment. Krafton’s large-scale game simulation data and virtual environment expertise are regarded as assets that can be directly leveraged in such research.