🔗 Share this article

Per recent disclosures from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders appears to utilize artificial intelligence technology for creating certain voice lines. This revelation strongly echoes the issue that emerged around the developer's 2023 hit, The Finals.

Title Introduction

Debuted on October 30 for Sony's console, computer platforms, and Xbox Series X, Arc Raiders is marketed as a more accessible entry point to the loot-and-extract style. In contrast with complex games like Escape from Tarkov, it strives to offer a more approachable adventure. The game has largely been positive feedback, presently achieving a highly favorable score on Steam based on numerous player reviews.

Technology Statement

Within the title's dedicated Steam page, a notice regarding "AI Generated Content" invites parallels: In the production phase, we might apply automated and generative systems to assist with material generation. In every instance, the final output embodies the artistic expression of our creative personnel."

Previous Controversy

The Finals, a popular multiplayer first-person shooter recognized for its smooth gunplay and destructive environments, received negative feedback for its implementation of artificial intelligence prior to its official launch. Throughout its public testing phase, the project's audio lead revealed in a audio program that the development team had used generative technology for developing voice content. This statement prompted immediate criticism from voice actors and game developers, who argued that AI-generated voices were of notably lower quality compared to human performances and that such practices could displace acting roles.

Company Position

Reacting to feedback, Embark Studios explained that they had hired professional performers to record original voice lines for The Finals, but enhanced these with TTS technology to produce supplementary lines modeled after those original recordings. The developer's reasoning highlighted the development speed obtained via this technique.

Current Situation

About Arc Raiders, the project's design head clarified that the release does not employ generative AI in any form," though he did not provide details on the specific interpretation of the store notice. He did admit, however, that the same vocal technology employed in The Finals was also utilized in Arc Raiders.

"We use a blend of recorded voice audio and material produced using TTS tools in our games, according to the requirements," explained a company spokesperson. In certain cases, capturing live performances where performers collaborate — enabling actor relationships and conflict to define the final product — is something that provides substance to our digital universes that technology can't emulate. For different situations, especially when it relates to real-time combat communications, synthetic voice permits us to have customized dialogue where we typically could not for example due to development pace."

Player Reactions

First reactions to the incorporation of AI technology in Arc Raiders has been fairly varied, notably in the launch window. Certain gamers have voiced significant concerns.

• Artificial intelligence dialogue is a stain on an mostly outstanding experience," stated one gamer in a forum post.
• "I hate that they implemented it in The Finals and am sad to hear they repeated it for this release," added another.
• The effect was quickly detectable in the dialogue delivery for Shani," mentioned a different user.

That said, different gamers have adopted a more open-minded stance.

• I don't care, they compensated performers and used it well," commented one community member.
• "This is as ethical as it is possible nowadays, I'm afraid," continued another.

The ongoing debate regarding AI implementation in video game production seems likely to persist as companies balance creative efficiency with creative quality and ethical considerations.