🔗 Share this article

According to developer statements from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders reportedly employ AI tools for generating certain spoken content. This news closely resembles the situation that surrounded the developer's previous success, The Finals.

Game Overview

Launched on October 30 for PS5, computer platforms, and Xbox Series X, Arc Raiders is positioned as a more accessible entry point to the competitive survival genre. In contrast with more hardcore titles like Escape from Tarkov, it strives to offer a user-friendly gameplay. This release has generally earned favorable reviews, maintaining a excellent rating on Steam based on over 8,000 player reviews.

AI Disclosure

Within the product's store listing, a specific statement regarding "AI Generated Content" invites parallels: In the production phase, we might apply algorithmic and intelligent tools to facilitate asset production. In all cases, the end product embodies the creativity and vision of our creative personnel."

Earlier Debate

The Finals, a successful online combat game famous for its smooth gunplay and demolition-heavy maps, received negative feedback for its adoption of generative tools even before its public debut. Throughout its pre-release trial, the project's audio lead revealed in a online discussion that the company had leveraged AI tools for producing dialogue lines. This revelation prompted immediate backlash from industry talent and game developers, who stated that computer-created dialogue were of notably lower quality compared to professional recordings and that such practices could eliminate voice-acting jobs.

Developer Response

Reacting to feedback, the development team clarified that they had hired professional talent to create initial dialogue for The Finals, but expanded these with text-to-speech tools to produce supplementary content modeled after those original recordings. The studio's rationale highlighted the production efficiency achieved through this approach.

Current Situation

Concerning Arc Raiders, the project's design head commented that the title "in no way uses AI generation in any form," though he avoided specifics on the exact nature of the platform statement. He did admit, however, that the equivalent speech tools employed in The Finals was also utilized in Arc Raiders.

"We use a combination of recorded voice audio and content created through synthetic voice systems in our games, depending on the requirements," explained a studio representative. For specific scenarios, capturing live performances where actors get together — enabling actor relationships and conflict to influence the result — is something that adds depth to our digital universes that AI cannot replicate. For different situations, particularly if it involves real-time combat communications, TTS allows us to have customized dialogue where we could not such as due to production timelines."

Gamer Feedback

Early feedback to the use of AI technology in Arc Raiders has been somewhat nuanced, particularly in the initial period. Some players have shown clear disapproval.

• Artificial intelligence dialogue is a flaw in an otherwise incredible game," wrote one gamer in a community thread.
• I oppose that they implemented it in The Finals and am disappointed to hear they repeated it for this game," responded another.
• The effect was instantly apparent in the speech content for Shani," noted a third player.

Nevertheless, other players have adopted a more accepting position.

• "Don't give a fuck, they hired talent and applied it appropriately," wrote one community member.
• This demonstrates acceptable as it gets these days, unfortunately," concluded another.

The persistent controversy surrounding AI implementation in video game production looks prepared to continue as studios juggle development pace with artistic integrity and responsible practices.