The developers of Valorborn break down their systemic approach to open-world design, AI simulation, and building a fully interactive sandbox RPG in Unreal Engine 5.

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The founder of indie studio behind the medieval sandbox RPG 'valorborn' shares how they built a living, simulation-driven open world in unreal engine 5. The interview covers their layered AI architecture (near/medium/far simulation detail), systemic design philosophy where factions, economy, and NPC behaviors interconnect, their asset pipeline using 3ds Max, ZBrush, and substance tools, and optimization strategies like dynamic tick rates and LOD management. The team also discusses how early access community feedback is shaping development priorities and their roadmap toward full release.

How This Indie Is Building a Fully Simulated Sandbox RPG in Valorborn