All the information below comes from a CharlieIntel interview with Mark Grigsby, Animation Director at Infinity Ward. The interview was held during the early access creator session. Grigsby shared a lot of critical information during the interview. Grigsby emphasized that AI bots are now something to look out for. They are not your traditional “bots” and may pose a danger to players. Grigsby has described the AI in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 as “lethal.” The new AI technology is being developed for all game modes, including Campaign, Multiplayer, Co-Op, and Warzone 2.
According to Grigsby, the new and improved AI will provide players with an interesting and engaging experience, ultimately demanding players’ respect. By respect, he means we’ll need to actually take them seriously and as a proper threat, rather than running into them like a scene out of Django. Quality standards have been raised. We’ve all always taken the bots in any video game, let alone COD, very non-seriously. Grigsby added that the previous iteration of the bots was not the best as they would blindly walk into hostile areas, making it easier for players to take them out. Infinity Ward has worked with military advisors and personnel to implement this new AI commissioned by motion-captured movements. The bots will check their corners and behave like an actual soldier would in combat scenarios. As mentioned above, bots will be implemented into Warzone 2 as well, and they will work as “guards” in areas with high-tier loot or “cool things,” as Grigsby describes it. We don’t have a lot of information on the extent of AI integration into Warzone 2 yet. We will know more as we get closer to the release date of Modern Warfare 2, which is scheduled for October 28, 2022.
