Game Version number:
1.3.0.157

Modded?:
No

Issue Description:
There is a critical issue affecting AI squad behavior in Arms Reforger on PS5, specifically related to the AI squad garbage system and command logic after the player’s death.

When the player dies, previously recruited AI squad members no longer appear to be part of the player’s squad. Their names revert to white when encountered again, which visually indicates they are unaffiliated. However, they remain functionally assigned to the player’s squad. This results in a command execution failure state. In this state, the AI no longer respond to most commands. For example, the “Move” command appears to be ignored entirely.

Reproduction Steps:

1. Start a game on PS5 with no mods.
2. Recruit 2–3 AI into your squad.
3. Move with them to a remote part of the map.
4. Allow the player character to die (e.g., suicide, combat death).
5. Respawn and locate the previously recruited AI.
6. Observe the following:
   • AI names now appear white and are no longer tagged as squadmates.
7. Now respawn at a different location. Spawn new friendly AI. Recruit them to your group. Observe the following:
   • They are part of the squad, but fail to behave normally (get in to vehicles, adhere to “move” commands, etc.)
   • Despite this, they still follow sporadically when using the “Follow Me” command, confirming they are still logically part of the squad.
8. Issue a “Follow Me” command. Some AI may begin to follow, although this behavior is inconsistent.

Additional Technical Notes:

AI appear to attempt to regroup before executing commands like “Move.” If the squad has become scattered, the regroup logic fails. The failure is silent and results in commands being dropped. During this state, AI movement becomes erratic. They may freeze, hesitate, or fail to pathfind properly. In many cases, they stop responding unless they are already nearby.

This issue is made worse by several known AI navigation bugs. AI frequently become stuck on environmental hazards, such as barbed wire located inside friendly bases. In addition, AI sometimes disperse after recruitment, likely due to pathfinding issues. This dispersal breaks squad cohesion and initiates the same command failure state.

Hypothesis:
The AI squad management system appears to fail at updating or resetting squad membership after player death. The AI remain linked logically to the player’s squad, but this link is no longer reflected in the UI or command logic. As a result, commands depending on squad cohesion, such as “Move,” fail.

The “Move” command likely requires AI to regroup before execution. If squadmates are spread across the map or frozen in place, regrouping becomes impossible, and no further action occurs. In contrast, the “Follow Me” command may bypass this requirement. It likely sits on a different decision branch or uses separate logic, which would explain why it occasionally works even when other commands fail.

Impact:
This issue disrupts the core gameplay loop of AI squad control. It is easily reproducible using the steps above and not limited to edge cases. The breakdown in AI command functionality affects a wide range of scenarios, especially those requiring travel or long engagements. The reliability of AI behavior after player death is compromised, resulting in a frustrating and inconsistent experience.

The problem appears to be rooted in two areas. The first is the AI squad garbage collection logic, which does not properly reset visual or functional squad membership. The second is the decision-tree logic that governs AI command execution, particularly when the AI are not in close proximity or are experiencing pathfinding failures. Both areas require further investigation.