Bringing Washington D.C. to Life: The AI of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 | AI and Games

In collaboration with Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment, I get an inside look at the challenges faced when building the AI of Tom Clancy's The Division 2. I sit down with Division 2's lead AI programmer, Philip Dunstan and get his perspective a year after the game first shipped. Over a three-part series we discuss the challenges of designing AI characters for missions and open-world gameplay and the other interesting problems faced along the way.

In this second video we discuss the process of migrating from the first games war-torn Manhattan to the more open areas of downtown Washington D.C. How the programming and design team built a living world activity system to give AI purpose in the open map and some of the interesting problems that arose when rebuilding AI to operate in this new environment.

Watch all episodes here:
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Please note: as part of my collaboration with Ubisoft I was compensated for my time in developing this and related videos.

[AIandGames]

The AI of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 continues in this second episode focussed on open-world gameplay and systemic design. Phil and I had a lot of fun discussing this during our interview given there are a lot of quirky situations which caused the game to break during development. I hope you enjoy the video!

[rich_in_paradise]

The logic of video games is so strange and twisted that we forget that in the real world, rival factions don't always kill each other on sight. So it's completely reasonable for the NPCs from rival factions to ignore each other when in their ambient behaviours.

[JohnDoe-zqho]

You deserve so many more views, goddamn. I try to share your Alien video whenever appropriate. I haven’t played games in nearly a decade, but I love your videos.

[DexLuther]

Biggest problem I have with the AI in the Division 2 and was even a problem in the first one, is the AI's ability to cheat.

You can throw a grenade or use a skill and kill a bunch of enemies, but one will rush into the room or survive and turn around and know exactly where you are. It doesn't matter if you've changed places. There's no way they could know where the attack came from, but somehow they know and will come rushing, shoot and lob grenades at the spot where you are. Without fail. Once they've locked onto you like this it's kinda easy to sneak around and have them continue attacking the spot they locked onto you at, but it breaks the immersion.

Use the Smart Cluster Grenade. It rolls around a bunch of crates, breaks open and kills a bunch of enemies facing the other way. Somehow the one that survives and/or the ones that rush into the room afterwards know that the person that used that Smart Grenade is right there behind this crate even though that's not even where they were when they used the device.

[brightmoor]

Just running across your videos on TD2, and have to say great job. I’ve got 1500+ hours into the game, and while I’m getting burned out on it these videos have given me such a great appreciation of what they dealt with making it.

Thank you for making these.

[legendarylineage]

Great video, we really enjoy the game. but after watching these videos i have a lot more respect for it. thx again and have a great day :)

[bleeduss]

The irony of this video title in current times is beautiful. Just worried about number 2 - there'll be another riot?

[BlackDogSamba]

Thanks for such an in-depth analysis! I was on the fence about getting Division 2 and this sold me. Been having loads of fun playing against the Hyenas and figuring out their behaviours. Looking forward to the next part o/

[templofzoom]

Oh mate, getting some debug stuff about the bots is pure gold. Total cliffhanger, hoping for granular.

[ChenAnPin]

Oh man, the next one might generate an existential crisis in me knowing what I do in-game has essentially been run thru by thousands of bots. Can't wait!

[badreedinebedro]

the also add rouge agents enemy’s and the fight like your division agents they’ll use drones and other weapons it’s ai is interesting

[iDEATH]

One of the most awful bugs from just after release was the way legendary enemies would rush. I believe it was because - according to Ubi/Massive - there was some kind of health comparison threshold where the AI would decide to close in for the kill, and legendary enemies were just big, beefy bags of HP. There was no way to kill them quick enough before they'd overrun you. It was a happy day when they patched that.

[rasetsuittou]

I hope they can bring
Issac into the real Smartwatch
Damn so good !!!

[SeseelLybon]

It's a shame that I kinda dislike the Division (2). Because all this AI stuff is really cool and I love they put so much effort into them.

[billmetal]

They didn’t dial down NPC vs player with the detection system they’ll follow you for blocks even if you don’t engage

[Mouritogaia]

Fantastic video. You need to play Homefront the revolution its the Most underrated game in the last generation. Fantastic game. Very good AI.

[shammendraeshwar]

just bought the game, waiting for the data cap to reset.

[spacecowboy]

I didn't know Ubisoft was capable of AI this advanced after Breakpoint's b.s.

[billmetal]

I think there is something Wrong With the AI in the division 2 some kind of bug the NPCs keep telling me I’m Hurt a wounded when it’s not the case at all I have full armor a health the NPCs are saying this to me while at full capacity on both there reading something totally wrong a the constant Grenade Spam is not any way tactical whatsoever .The AI team needs to look into this more .The NPCs are constantly rushing .Hyena rusher her movement is way wrong there teleporting .There is things that are really wrong

[WillKnapp]

2 vids in 2 days... Are you feeling ok Tommy?