No, ARC Raiders’ AI Isn’t Actively Evolving Like Many Players Think

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So, I’ve been following ARC Raiders closely, and there’s been a lot of talk about how smart the enemies are. A lot of us fans thought they were actually learning from how we play – adapting to our movements and strategies. But a developer at Embark Studios cleared things up. They said the AI, even for enemies like the Leapers and the Queen, isn’t about predicting what we’re going to do. Instead, any machine learning they use is just to help the enemies move around the environment more effectively. It’s good to know, but honestly, I was kind of hoping for enemies that would really challenge me by learning my tactics!

Embark’s new shooter, ARC Raiders, initially began as a game focused solely on players battling the environment. However, it later changed direction to include both player-versus-player (PvP) and player-versus-environment (PvE) combat. This means players will face threats from both other players and the ARC enemies. While some ARC enemies, like Ticks and Pops, are easily defeated, others – such as Rocketeers, Leapers, and Bastions – are much more dangerous and players generally try to avoid them. Many players have theorized that these enemies are getting smarter and learning from player behavior, but that’s actually not happening.

AI Enemies In ARC Raiders Aren’t Predicting Your Movements

In a recent PC Gamer interview, lead designer Virgil Watkins addressed the popular fan theory that enemies in ARC Raiders are learning and adapting. He confirmed that enemies like the Bastion, Leaper, and Rocketeer haven’t actually changed in how they behave or attack since the game launched. The only improvement is that they can now navigate and walk around a little more smoothly. Watkins explained that machine learning is only used for movement and environment navigation, not for their actions or attacks. This misconception stems from a 2021 announcement by Embark Studio that they were using machine learning technology, which some players incorrectly interpreted as meaning the enemies could learn from player behavior.

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While ARC Raiders has received updates to improve enemy AI – often fixing bugs and helping them move around more effectively – the challenging feeling of being accurately targeted by enemies hasn’t changed since the game’s release. You might still feel like enemies predict your movements or strike at the worst possible time. However, machine learning will improve how enemies like Leapers, Queens, and Matriarchs navigate the environment.

Watkins also discussed the game’s challenging boss fights against the Queen and Matriarch. They explained that Embark didn’t expect so many players to team up and focus on taking down these large ARCs. Because ARC Raiders uses a matchmaking system that groups players based on their preferred playstyle, lobbies often fill with players who prefer cooperative gameplay. This leads to entire lobbies working together on these bosses, but the game wasn’t designed to support that level of cooperation, resulting in a shortage of loot for everyone. “They weren’t meant to be taken on by the whole server,” Watkins told PC Gamer, adding, “That’s a mistake on our part.”

Good news for players eager for new challenges: the ARC Raiders 2026 roadmap reveals a powerful new ARC enemy—likely on par with the Queen or Matriarch—will be added in the April Riven Tides update. This update will also introduce a completely new map to explore.

Next week, on February 24th, a new update will be released, adding a Hurricane Map Condition to the game. This will introduce strong, challenging winds that impact how you see, move, and use items like grenades. The update will also include a new threat from the ARC, though specific details are currently limited.

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2026-02-19 20:34