Age of Empires 4 will have AI-enhanced by machine learning and will no longer cheat

Age of Empires 4 is one of the big names in Microsoft’s gaming portfolio. In a recent interview with Kotaku Australia, the developers talked about the game’s strengths, namely that it will include AI-enhanced by machine learning. Furthermore, AI will no longer cheat as it did in the past.

We have to know that, as a rule, computer AIs have ways of cheating, using power-ups or receiving extra resources that allow them to keep up with the player. Age of Empires 4 will no longer use these “old” tricks. The developers have, however, revealed that they have been testing an ‘Unmerciful’ AI for the strategy game.

Age of Empires 4 has been using machine learning to train its AI, but after the October launch, the developers are likely to add a more complex mode that will continue to learn from the players’ current meta. The AI “will continue to learn as people play with it, to the point of being unbeatable. That’s fine with us because if you pick that difficult to make the AI better at defeating you, that’s exactly what you want.” The developers explain that they did the same with Killer Instinct 2 in which the AI got good at mimicking even player taunts (like teabag).

For lower difficulties, however, the creators point out that the AI will be modified to create matches that are always exciting for players, even if they are not experts. They explain that from their point of view the most important part is that the player has fun. It is also explained that thanks to the training of the AI (which fights against itself), the team was able to notice a bug.

Players who don’t want to be defeated, however, will have access to a Story mode that removes the defeat conditions from the campaign. Age of Empires 4 is indeed aiming to be more accessible, especially considering that Game Pass will allow it to approach players who may have never tried the series or the genre.