NCSoft introduced three future technologies Friday at a media event in Gangnam, Seoul, saying it intends to unveil them by the end of this year.

The company’s artificial intelligence center is currently developing hands-free voice command technology, a master server to unite all 160 servers of “LineageM,” and an “unconnected play” function that will allow game characters to remain active and keep developing even when players are offline.

 

“We are often put in situations where our hands aren’t free to play games,” said Shim Seung-bo, NCSoft’s president of publishing. “We found the answer in voice.”

Once the new technology is in place, players will be able to give spoken commands to make game characters attack, move around, heal from injuries and more. After initially rolling these features out for “LineageM,” the company will make them available in future games.

Meanwhile, on March 6 the third edition of “LineageM,” titled “Eclipse,” is slated for launch along with a new server called Kerenis. The game will feature a new character called the Dark Knight as well. Also on the way March 6 are a system overhaul for “Einhasad’s Blessing,” a new “Battle Royale” map called “Collapsing Island” and a pet-rearing feature.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)