For solo game developers, the costs of 3D character modeling, background music, voice acting, and international translation can be daunting.

Outsourcing these tasks costs millions of won, while doing them in-house requires time and expertise that many lack. A new government support program has launched to ease these burdens using artificial intelligence (AI)—and it even covers the AI subscription fees. Furthermore, if developers choose domestic AI solutions, they pay absolutely nothing out of pocket.

NC AI’s 'VARCO' has been included in the official list of AI solutions for the '2026 Game Production Environment AI Transformation (AX) Support Program,' co-hosted by the Korea Mobile Game Association, the Korea Game Developers Association, and the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association. This program aims to help small game studios with fewer than 50 employees and indie teams adopt AI, with applications open until 3:00 PM on May 27.

From 3D and Sound to Voice and Translation... AI-Powered Asset Creation

VARCO is a domestic solution that handles asset production—a labor-intensive and costly part of game development—directly through AI. It consists of four modules.

For instance, if a solo developer working on a fantasy RPG inputs a sentence like 'a knight in worn-out armor' or a single concept image, 'VARCO 3D' immediately generates a 3D modeling asset for the game.

If background music to build tension in a dungeon or sound effects for clashing swords are needed, 'VARCO Sound' generates the BGM and effects. For NPC dialogue, 'VARCO Voice' implements character voices and TTS (Text-to-Speech). When launching the finished game abroad, 'VARCO Translation' automatically localizes the game text.

By automating tasks that previously required outsourcing—such as 3D modeling, sound design, composition, voice recording, and translation—VARCO provides significant cost savings for small teams and solo developers.

Zero Out-of-Pocket Costs for Domestic Solutions: A Key Differentiator from Overseas Alternatives

The biggest reason VARCO is drawing attention in this program is that there is no out-of-pocket cost. As a domestic solution, the entire subscription fee (excluding VAT) is covered by government subsidies. All domestic solutions, including VARCO, HyperCLOVA X, and GameSoundAI, are 100% subsidized. In contrast, for overseas solutions like ChatGPT, Cursor, Gemini, and ElevenLabs, the government covers only 90% of the subscription fee, leaving the remaining 10% to be paid by the developer.

For example, if a developer uses a solution costing ₩1 million per month, they would typically have to pay ₩100k out of pocket for an overseas solution. However, that burden disappears when choosing a domestic solution. Even with the same amount of funding, using a domestic solution effectively reduces the developer's actual out-of-pocket cost to zero.

Support amounts vary by company size. Teams of 1–2 people can receive up to ₩5 million, 3–10 person companies up to ₩10 million, 11–20 person companies up to ₩20 million, and 21–50 person companies up to ₩50 million. The program plans to select approximately 84 teams of 1–2 people, 64 companies of 3–10 people, 42 companies of 11–20 people, and 22 companies of 21–50 people.

Applications are submitted via Google Forms. After a document eligibility review, final selections will be made by lottery. Selected companies must pay for the AI solution upfront and will be reimbursed monthly upon submitting reports and proof of payment.

Meanwhile, an online information session (via Zoom) will be held on May 22 at 2:00 PM for developers considering the program. The session will provide an overview of the program and include a Q&A segment.