Empires Apart, the real-time tactics strategy title released earlier this year got a new patch tackling AI issues. The game was launched to poor reviews due to its unfinished state in spite of not being an early access title, and the developers have been working to patch it up ever since with partial success. 1.1.7 is the latest in a string of rapid-fire patches that were pumped out quickly.
Many of the criticisms that were aimed at Empires Apart focused on the simplicity of the AI, with the computer-controlled factions not offering a lot of challenge, and when your own units are left to their own devices their actions aren’t logical or consequential, with pathfinding being an issue across the board. Looking through the notes for 1.1.5, 1.1.6 and 1.1.7, you’ll see that the devs have paid attention to these criticisms and are working hard to iron out the issues.
Beyond two small bugfixes, all of 1.1.7 is dedicated to the refinement of the AI. In previous patches, issues such as targeting, build order, pathfinding and attack logic, with the latest patch instead improving the late-game AI. Prior to the patch, the AI had a tendency to starve itself of resources over the long-term, crippling itself during the late-game. This patch seeks to solve this issue as well as general behaviour issues.
The other issues tackled by 1.1.7 are fairly small in the grand scheme of things, but that is a fair trade-off for AI fixes. Spectator mode could freeze up at times, and there was an exploit present in the game relying on the Mangonel war machines, and both issues have been resolved. In a message to their players on Steam, the developers have made it clear that they intend to roll out multiple patches in the near future.
