Devlog: AI Companions Have Arrived in Wasteland Outpost!

From now on, your matches will be populated with AI fighters who can fight alongside you (or against you). This makes the action more dynamic, especially when waiting for players to join, and opens up fantastic new opportunities for training and experimentation.Steam post image

What Can These Bots Do?

Our goal was never to create simple target dummies. We wanted full-fledged squadmates. These bots behave in surprisingly human-like ways:

• They Fight: They actively seek out enemies, use cover, engage in firefights, and pursue objectives.

• They Gather Resources: Bots can autonomously scavenge the map for resources and bring them back to your base.

• They Build & Upgrade: They know how to construct defensive walls, set up turrets, and repair damaged structures.

• They Craft Gear: Bots can craft weapons, armor, and medical supplies not just for themselves, but also for allies upon request.

• They Execute Team Plays: They can coordinate to assault an enemy stronghold, defend your own, or provide backup in a tough firefight.

Meet the Archetypes

To make their behavior distinct and meaningful, we’ve implemented a clear "Archetype" system. Each bot has a specialization that defines its priorities on the battlefield:

• Assault

  An aggressive frontline fighter.

  Primary directive

  find and eliminate the enemy.

• Harvester: Focuses on resource collection and team economy. Will avoid combat unless necessary.

• Guardian: The dedicated base defender. Stays close to home, repairs structures, and repels attacks.

• Medic: The team supporter. Heals wounded allies and can craft medkits for the squad.

(Screenshot Suggestion: A split-screen showing the four different bot archetypes in action, perhaps with their icons visible.)

How Does It Work Under the Hood?

Each bot is driven by a complex, server-side decision-making system. It constantly analyzes the game state—player positions, resource nodes, base health, etc.—and, based on its archetype, selects the most appropriate action from dozens of possibilities: attack, retreat, heal, build, craft, and more.

We’re incredibly proud of how this system has come together. We believe it will make Wasteland Outpost more engaging, accessible for new players, and strategically deeper for veterans.

Let us know what you think once you get to play with them! What kind of bot is your favorite? What strategies will you try?

See you in the Wasteland, The Wasteland Outpost Team