Developing a multiplayer game? You need smart bot AI.

Bot AI can make or break your game

Bots play crucial roles in enhancing gameplay, filling gaps in multiplayer matches, and providing valuable training and practice opportunities for players. So it’s no surprise that the quality of bot AI can significantly influence your game's success. But what makes ‘good’ bot AI? And what do studios risk if they don’t get it right?

What are bots in video games?

Bots are a form of non-player character (NPC) which, as the name suggests, are characters in a game that are not controlled by a player. Instead, NPCs are controlled by artificial intelligence to simulate human-like behavior and interactions. They can be vendors, scene-fillers, or can drive the narrative of the game forward by sharing information or quest items with the player. Bots are a type of NPC that acts as opponents or teammates in multiplayer games. Crucially, bots are usually used to stand in place of a real player when none are available.

How AI powers game bots

First, what do we mean by AI in the context of games?

Games AI refers to techniques and methods used to create the behavior of non-player characters (NPCs) and other in-game entities. Unlike the use of recent generative models, like those based on machine learning or neural networks, these ‘traditional’ Games AI techniques are typically rule-based, deterministic, and designed to execute specific behaviors and strategies, and have been employed in game development for decades. AI and Games has a great explanation of the different types of AI on their channel if you want to learn more. 

Games AI encompasses a range of techniques and algorithms designed to create both believable and functional bots. It uses predefined rules and models to simulate intelligent and responsive behavior, like the state transitions of bots. Allowing bots to, for example, switch between patrolling, investigating, and attacking states based on the player's actions.

Features like Query Systems can be used to manage logical decisions and actions based on the game environment, like to evaluate where the bot could take cover during combat, while pathfinding algorithms ensure bots can navigate the game world efficiently.

Why do games use bots?

Bots are a versatile tool in video games, enhancing the experience for players through training, testing, accessibility, and maintaining consistent gameplay. They play a crucial role in both the development and enjoyment of video games. Here’s some of the most common ways bots are used in games.

To enhance single player experiences:

Bots enhance single-player experiences by serving as intelligent opponents or allies, creating a more immersive game world. Often, bots are used to aid in training and practice, helping players develop skills and learn game mechanics before facing human opponents.

To enliven multiplayer matches:

In multiplayer matches, bots fill empty slots to ensure games can start without sufficient human players, maintaining a consistent and enjoyable experience. They also balance teams, ensuring fair and competitive gameplay when the number of human players is uneven.

By ensuring that players always have opponents to play against, bots help maintain player engagement and retention, especially during off-peak hours or while a game is still building up its player base.

To streamline testing and development:

During game development, bots are used for quality assurance by testing AI behavior, level design, and gameplay mechanics, helping developers identify and fix issues before release. They also simulate large numbers of players for stress testing servers and network infrastructure to ensure performance under peak conditions.

Not all bots are created equal

Bots with poor AI become repetitive and unchallenging, leading to decreased engagement. Games with simplistic AI opponents often lose player interest because they become predictable, or exhibit unnatural or erratic behaviors, breaking immersion.

Some poorly designed AI might even “cheat” to create difficulty. Racing games, for example, have been criticized for “rubber-banding AI” that unfairly speeds up or slows down, ruining the experience for players.

Despite its enormous popularity the online multiplayer game Fortnite is notorious for issues with bots with the main criticisms centered around unrealistic behavior, poor matchmaking and unsatisfying gameplay.

Inefficient AI can also cause performance issues, especially in large-scale scenarios, with recent open-world games struggling with frame rates and glitches due to poorly optimized bot behaviors. At the crux of it - games with subpar AI fail to retain players, resulting in dwindling communities and reduced longevity.

Your players want bots - as long as they're believable.

Bots have gotten some bad press recently. A quick search will come up with countless pages where players of games like Counter Strike or COD Mobile discuss how to 'kick' bots or avoid bot lobbies. Equally however, there’s a lot of players getting more vocal about their love for bots, citing that the inclusion of bots makes the gameplay experience more enjoyable for everyone - not just those who can wrack up enormous amounts of game time.

Games YouTuber InfoNow's video on the bots of Battlefield 2042 gets to the heart of the issue.

“When I finally do get the opportunity to play some games after a long day of work, do I want to spend that time getting absolutely slaughtered on a multiplayer game, because sadly I can’t play as much as some other people? No."

In Fortnite’s case, many players assert that bots serve a purpose by catering to less skilled players in public matches while encouraging higher-skilled individuals to opt for ranked gameplay. The perspective suggests a divide between casual and competitive player preferences. The community’s diverse reactions to the bot presence in Fortnite highlight the ongoing debate regarding the game’s matchmaking system and the impact on player engagement and satisfaction. Read more on this from The Portal.

Due to historically frustrating bot encounters, players can be vehemently opposed to bots. But are they really anti-bot? Or are they just tired of unrealistic behavior that ruins the immersive experience? Examining the arguments, some pretty clear trends emerge. The complaints almost always fall into one of two categories, either the bots are so easy to defeat that it’s comical, or they have such an unfair advantage that playing against them is excruciatingly frustrating.

So, it’s not that these games use bots - it’s that the bots are…well…bad.

Bots are necessary. They keep gameplay even, cater to different types of players and make gameplay more accessible. But not getting bots right could cost you some of your top players. So how do developers keep everyone happy?

The answer is simple. Make your bots smarter.

Smart, high-quality AI bots significantly increase player engagement by providing intelligent and entertaining gameplay experiences. Adaptive AI bots that adjust to player skill levels ensure a satisfying experience that encourages players to return.

In the video above, InfoNow shares why Battlefield 2042's bots create such an enjoyable gameplay experience.

"The bots in this game are competent... It's a complete emulation of the online experience. I can't help but grin when I launch 2042 to play because I know it's going to be a good time."

Aside from the enormous benefits to the player experience, AI powered bots boost efficiency and performance. Well-optimized AI ensures smooth gameplay even in complex scenarios. The reliable and consistent behavior provided by bots is essential for testing game mechanics and balancing gameplay.

Benefits at a glance

• Smart AI creates a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience by generating believable and interactive bot behaviors - making the game world feel more alive
• AI-driven bots provide dynamic and challenging opponents, ensuring a consistent level of difficulty in multiplayer shooters
• Smart behavior based AI enhances accessibility by offering scalable difficulty levels, catering to players of all skill levels.
• Advanced AI allows for richer interactions and more complex gameplay scenarios, enhancing creativity.
• Bots powered by sophisticated AI attract more players and foster a vibrant community, with games featuring smart bots often having active modding and user-generated content communities.

Multiplayer games need bots - but bots driven by sophisticated AI are crucial. Advanced bot AI means increased engagement, player retention, enhanced creativity, and scalability - everything necessary for a successful game.  By leveraging high-quality navigation and behavior AI, game developers can create compelling and immersive experiences that captivate players and foster thriving gaming communities.

Talk to us about how your studio can enhance your bot AI today.

By: Rebecca Waghorn
Published: July 2024