Arc Raiders' killer robots aren't learning in real time, but Embark will sneak in AI upgrades based on player behavior: "We keep trying to make the flying drones better and better"

Arc Raiders’ use of machine learning in the movements for several of its titular Arc machines has helped fuel conspiracy theories about the robots learning and adapting to player behavior in real time, despite developer Embark Studios repeatedly explaining that this is not how machine learning works in this application. But the folks at Embark, at least, do respond to player behavior and use it to make improvements to the Arc AI – perhaps unannounced.

This has been on my mind ever since I spoke to Arc Raiders machine learning research lead Martin Singh-Blom at GDC, and it’s come to the front of my mind following the release of the “Close Scrutiny” map condition that’s thrown players into the harshest gauntlet of Arc ever devised. The Arc are never more dangerous than when you’re trying to quietly loot silos of rare parts while raider-seeking ordnance launchers whir overhead.