If you wanted Arc Raiders PvE, the next Gray Zone Warfare update could be the answer with enemies that behave "like real combatants"

Are you in the camp that wishes Arc Raiders had a PvE mode? Then a new Gray Zone Warfare update may be the ideal time to check in with Madfinger Games' extraction shooter. GZW prides itself on realism, and with the ability to play the tactical FPS on entirely PvE-focused servers if you want, getting its computer-controlled enemies to behave like real soldiers is one of its toughest challenges. The developer says that it's made big steps on this front in recent months, and is now showing off the fruits of its labor, along with overhauls to everything from recoil to sound design.

Madfinger Games CEO Marek Rabas, technical director Johanny Clerc-Renaud, and community manager Jakub Vemberksý talk us through the huge Gray Zone Warfare patch 0.3.5.0 that's dropping this week. Along with a move to Unreal Engine 5.5, which it says will bring "major performance gains on low-to-mid-spec machines," the update focuses on enhanced realism and, in particular, making combat against AI-controlled opponents feel "more immersive and less frustrating."

Gone are the days of 'aimbot' opponents that are simply nerfed by delays to their reaction times. The enemy AI has been "completely reworked to react, aim, and shoot like real combatants." Their accuracy takes into account everything around them: their distance from the target and effective range, their weapon type, the skill level of that enemy, their current health, and factors like suppression and weather conditions. As a result of this, you'll now also see hostiles "lose or switch target lock dynamically when reloading, getting hit, or losing line of sight."

To step this up further for both sides, recoil calculations have been enhanced and are now "driven by real physics and energy computations, as well as the position of the lower receiver, gas factor, barrel length, and attachments like muzzle brakes or suppressors." You'll notice a more dramatic impact on your weapon control and sway based on your positioning and movement; lie prone and you'll be very stable, while attempting to shoot on the move will put your aim to the test.

Character movement and the animations seen in first-person have been optimized to feel smoother, especially when in close-quarters engagements. Additionally, changes to health calculations will make your attacks against AI opponents feel more lethal, reducing that sensation of 'spongy' foes that soak up shots. Audio has also been enhanced, with a particular focus on how distance and projectile types affect what you hear.

Gray Zone Warfare patch 0.3.5.0 launches Thursday November 6. Madfinger says that the full patch notes, which you can see a preview of via the livestream, include "almost 600" resolved tasks and fixes. There's also a new server being launched for players in mainland China.

If you're thinking about playing for the first time, here are the Gray Zone Warfare system requirements. We've also rounded up more of the best open-world games if you love the feeling of being free to explore as you please.