Endogenous Game Transformation among Advanced Civilisations: Co-evolution of Technologies, Preferences, Players, Actions and Payoff Structures in Interstellar Strategy

Interstellar game models normally allow strategies to change while holding fixed the players, technologies, preferences, feasible actions and payoff structure. This assumption is least credible for advanced civilisations operating across long technological and evolutionary horizons. This paper develops an Endogenous Game Transformation Model in which operational actions select outcomes inside the current game, while transformative actions alter the game itself. A game form is represented as a stochastic state containing the player set, technology vectors, preferences, information structure, action correspondences, utility functions and transition kernel. A continuity matrix allocates predecessor interests across descendants, mergers and extinction, permitting strategic identity to split or combine. The paper defines Transformational Markov Perfect Equilibrium and proves existence for finite discounted systems. Four analytical modules derive exact conditions for assurance technology to convert conflict into cooperation, defensive catch-up to close a temporary offensive action window, preference self-modification to produce peaceful or hostile fixed points, and autonomous replication to transform one counterpart into a population-level threat. A game-form distance and local bifurcation criterion identify regime transformation. Numerical illustrations show that a civilisation can rationally invest in changing commitment, identity and action architecture rather than merely choosing within a fixed Dark Forest game.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22815895
Primary Topic
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Type
preprint
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Endogenous Game Transformation among Advanced Civilisations: Co-evolution of Technologies, Preferences, Players, Actions and Payoff Structures in Interstellar Strategy

Kwan Hong TAN
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
preprint

Endogenous Game Transformation among Advanced Civilisations: Co-evolution of Technologies, Preferences, Players, Actions and Payoff Structures in Interstellar Strategy

Kwan Hong TAN
preprint en

Abstract

Interstellar game models normally allow strategies to change while holding fixed the players, technologies, preferences, feasible actions and payoff structure. This assumption is least credible for advanced civilisations operating across long technological and evolutionary horizons. This paper develops an Endogenous Game Transformation Model in which operational actions select outcomes inside the current game, while transformative actions alter the game itself. A game form is represented as a stochastic state containing the player set, technology vectors, preferences, information structure, action correspondences, utility functions and transition kernel. A continuity matrix allocates predecessor interests across descendants, mergers and extinction, permitting strategic identity to split or combine. The paper defines Transformational Markov Perfect Equilibrium and proves existence for finite discounted systems. Four analytical modules derive exact conditions for assurance technology to convert conflict into cooperation, defensive catch-up to close a temporary offensive action window, preference self-modification to produce peaceful or hostile fixed points, and autonomous replication to transform one counterpart into a population-level threat. A game-form distance and local bifurcation criterion identify regime transformation. Numerical illustrations show that a civilisation can rationally invest in changing commitment, identity and action architecture rather than merely choosing within a fixed Dark Forest game.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
University of Suffolk (GB), University of West London (GB), University of Northampton (GB), Graham International Implant Institute (US), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SG)
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
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Endogenous Game Transformation among Advanced Civilisations: Co-evolution of Technologies, Preferences, Players, Actions and Payoff Structures in Interstellar Strategy — Kwan Hong TAN · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS