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Since most of us play Path of Exile solo,
I’d love to see a real AI companion system in the next version of PoE — something like what NVIDIA ACE is doing for other games
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/nvidia-ace-autonomous-ai-companions-pubg-naraka-bladepoint/
https://youtu.be/wEKUSMqrbzQ?si=MSSi9jBTPterPJyH&t=13
Imagine being able to fully gear up a companion just like your main character, opening up tons of new build possibilities.
Some ideas for AI partner roles:
- Player + AuraBot
- Player + CurseBot
- Player + DD
- WalkingSimulator + UberDD (carry me, senpai)
Why GGG should consider this:
More playtime – More character combinations = more build diversity = longer engagement.
Stronger economy – More gear to buy, craft, and trade.
Reviving Standard – What if you could pick a companion from your old Standard characters? It could breathe life into the economy and let you relive your past builds.
Is it possible?
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I'm not making an ethical or moral stance here when I say:
its going to be a thing 100% and will end up as "the new normal" one way or another.
What I mean is nothing can be done about it and as soon as Microsoft/Nvidia/Google/OpenAI/Deepseek etc. Agents become easy to have do things for you then completely novice computer users will be able to ask an agent to do things for them.
"Hey google follow me around in the game and chat with me, and tell me if anything I loot is an upgrade, also how much damage does this monster deal and what type"
Doesn't break TOS (IFAIK) and will 100% happen.
Ofc things which do skirt or break will also be possible.
no game company on earth will be able to tell the difference or do anything about it baring widespread standard setting/adoption and international cooperation (which aint gonna happen). Gaming as we know it is going to have to change because of this.
If I sound cryptic is because I'm trying hard to not break any forum rules while talking about my recent new favorite gaming subject.
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You wouldn't really need actual AI to accomplish something like this.
It's most commonly called an AiHelper. It's a global action sequence for NPCs which determines their actions based on conditions. They might not want such a thing because it can actually make summons too smart. Plenty of CRPGs use this like Divinity OS2 and BG3.
I've ever worked on the AiHelper for those specific games. They have things like projectile fallback, weighted skills under specific situations, priority targeting, surface danger awareness and more.
The limitation of such a system is that everything needs to be tabled.
If it's not in the table it won't take action.
Why AI Companions Would Work in PoE:
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More Build Diversity – You could create synergistic builds (e.g., AuraBot + DPS, CurseBot + Self-Caster).
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Revitalizing Standard League – Allowing AI companions based on old builds could revive economy and past characters.
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Increased Playtime & Engagement – More character combos = More reasons to keep playing.
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New Gear Market – AI companions would need gear, meaning more crafting and trading opportunities.
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QoL for SSF Players – Gives solo players better sustain, utility, or DPS options without trivializing difficulty.
How It Could Work:
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Fully Gearable AI Partner – Just like your main character.
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Configurable Playstyles – Choose support, DPS, or hybrid roles.
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Solo-Only Feature – To prevent party abuse, it could be a solo feature or locked from high-end trade interactions.
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Companion Progression System - AI companions could level up, unlock abilities, and gain passive bonuses. Maybe introduce "Memory Echoes" (e.g., using your past Standard characters as companions).
Maybe Available in Standard First? – Test it in Standard before adding it to Leagues.
🔹 Challenges & Balance Considerations
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Avoiding OP Builds:
AI should never outperform real players.
Limited skill interactions (e.g., no fully automated Headhunter minion builds).
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Performance Optimization:
Limiting one companion per player ensures balance.
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Monetization & Ethical Concerns:
No Pay-to-Win elements (GGG would likely avoid a "buy better AI" model).
Potential concerns over AI-generated dialogue/interactions.
Would GGG Ever Do This?
GGG tends to lean towards player-driven mechanics, but they’ve already explored AI-driven elements with Spectres, Minions, and Animate Guardian.
Expanding this into a full AI companion system wouldn’t be impossible, but it depends on how much control they want to give the player.
Would you want it as a permanent feature, or something that rotates in temporary leagues first?
