At a GDC panel attended by GamesRadar+, Arc Raiders machine learning research lead Martin Singh-Blom explained the systems behind the adaptive locomotion that fuels much of the Arc's behavior. Among the machine rewards and references, behind the directives and neural net training, a more fantastical-sounding element caught my attention: a "magic" system that serves as a quiet stop-gap to help the Arc do what they need to do, namely pursuing and ultimately killing players.
The "magic" of Arc Raiders exists alongside physics in the reward scheme for the Arc machine learning. This reward system essentially compels AI to do certain things, like orienting or moving toward players, in their locomotion. Completing such tasks increases the reward value, which is what the whole system is set up for. Combined with standard video game AI behavior patterns, this machine learning leads to more dynamic enemies capable of tackling a wide range of hard-to-predict situations, like Leapers navigating barricades players have set up.
