The Low-Tech AI of Elden Ring
nega.tv
June 23, 2026
12 min read
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55/100
Summary
Elden Ring's AI decision-making utilizes Havok Script, a Lua implementation designed for gaming. The AI implementation is characterized as low-tech despite the game's complex NPC encounters.
Key Takeaways
- FROMSOFT's AI in Elden Ring primarily utilizes a stack-based Goal system, allowing for complex decision-making through a Pushdown Automaton model.
- Each Actor updates the top Goal on their stack every frame, which can push Sub-Goals and determine outcomes based on success or failure.
- The AI's decision-making process involves a weighted random selection of actions based on context and randomness derived from the Actor itself.
- Goals are defined by callback functions, with the most significant logic occurring in the 'activate' function, which selects the next action for the Actor.
Coverage & discussions
Hacker News · nega.tv
Community discussions
Hacker News discussion ↗
Historical count: 5 · 5 saved in sample · Historical sample
Analysis ready
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The discussion highlights the historical context of AI in gaming, reminding us that behavior trees have been foundational for many game AI systems, emphasizing their importance in game design.
- Acknowledging that low-tech AI can still be effective, some commenters appreciate the charm and unique design choices of Fromsoft's approach to NPC interactions.
Concerns
- The term 'AI' is being misused in the gaming context, leading to confusion and frustration among developers who feel it undermines the complexity of true AI systems.
- Critics point out that the inscrutable nature of NPC quests in Elden Ring reflects poorly on the design, suggesting that the AI's limitations can detract from the gaming experience.
