How FromSoftware's Elden Ring Uses Simple Scripting for Complex Enemy AI
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Summary
An analysis of how FromSoftware implements AI decision-making in Elden Ring using Havok Script (a Lua-based scripting language). The article explains that despite the reputation for complex NPC behavior, the underlying AI logic is surprisingly simple and low-tech, relying on basic state machines, priority-based decision trees, and straightforward scripting rather than advanced machine learning or complex algorithms. The author examines decompiled game code to reveal the mechanics behind enemy behavior, including aggro ranges, attack patterns, and combat logic.
Source
Hacker NewsHow FromSoftware's Elden Ring Uses Simple Scripting for Complex Enemy AInega.tvKey quotes
· 3 pulledFROMSOFT has a reputation for diverse and punishing npc encounters across the entire Soulsborne extended series, but the implementation of the AI decision making itself is perhaps unexpectedly low-tech.
Since the majority of the code is implemented in Havok Script (A games-oriented Lua implementation from Havok) it's pretty easy to take a peek behind the fog wall to see how they're implemented.
Note that none of what follows is original research, I'm just reading the code that others have done the hard work of extracting, decompiling, and reversing.
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