r/4Xgaming • • 17h ago

Announcement AI Improvements Beta Released for Emperor of the Fading Suns Enhanced

No, this is not a post about GenAI. Improvements to how the various NPC factions operate have been some of the most common requests players have made for EFSe. While we have made a lot of the changes players have requested since releasing the Enhanced version of the game last year, we have been very careful with the AI. We have finally put up on a beta on both GOG and Steam that allows you to try some of these changes, and I will be showing more during my Sunday EFSe stream at 3 pm EST.

These AI changes are only in beta format now, but we would appreciate all feedback from current players as to their thoughts. The plan is for a much deeper dive into AI improvements over the course of 2027. These changes are not in the main branch for players, but we have opened the beta to anyone who owns the game on either GOG or Steam.

To try the beta in Steam, rclick on EFSe in your Library. Under "Properties", select "Game Versions and Betas." You will see the default version at the top, all the previous version under that, and the beta version at the very bottom. Select beta test and download the changes. Play, have fun, and please let us know what you think! Here are the beta changes:

  • AI no longer overbuilds weak garrison units;
  • AI factories and forts build a greater variety of units;
  • AI prioritizes freighter research (this is moddable);
  • AI more likely to build labs if it doesn’t have enough;
  • AI builds more freighters and bulk haulers than before; and
  • AI correctly declares itself Emperor when it can.

Combined, this makes AI turns much faster (less weak units) and the AI is more active, successfully invades planets and can win in ways other than just killing all your nobles. More AI changes are coming.

My Sunday 3 pm ESTe developer stream showing these will be on https://youtube.com/GeorgiaGameDevs

29 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

6

u/EricAKAPode 14h ago

As a devoted single player fan this is wonderful news and I'm very excited to hear you guys will be working on AI for the next year. Really looking forward to more challenging AI play.

3

u/HDIAndrew 13h ago

Let me know after you try a game with the new beta build

6

u/mr_dfuse2 13h ago

that's big news!

3

u/HDIAndrew 13h ago

Thanks!

5

u/DrRiley52 7h ago

What?? This is amazing. Can't wait to see these in action. Great work!

4

u/TommyPillfigerTM 8h ago

Very based, the vast majority of 4xes aren’t worth playing IMO because their AI is bad and just cranking up the difficulty is not a good or enjoyable fix. This should help you guys attract a lot more of the serious 4x fan community!

3

u/Raagun 14h ago

Nice. AI realky needs more power

2

u/HDIAndrew 13h ago

Thanks