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The Low-Tech AI of Elden Ring
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Overview
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.
Summary from nega.tv.
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Community reactions
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Hacker News · nega.tv
Hacker News discussion ↗
Historical count: 5 · 5 saved in sample · Historical sample
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Based on 5 sampled comments from this thread. Analyzed 2026-06-24.
- Praise: 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.
- Praise: 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.
- Concern: 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.
- Concern: 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.