🔗 Share this article

Per recent disclosures from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders appears to utilize AI tools for generating select dialogue. This development is strikingly similar to the debate that emerged around the studio's earlier release, The Finals.

Title Introduction

Released on October 30th for Sony's console, PC, and Xbox Series X, Arc Raiders is marketed as a easier entry point to the loot-and-extract genre. In contrast with established behemoths like Escape from Tarkov, it strives to offer a welcoming adventure. The title has largely been favorable reviews, presently achieving a highly favorable score on the popular platform based on over 8,000 gamer feedback.

Development Approach

Within the game's official store listing, a notice regarding "AI Generated Content" raises similarities: "During development, we might apply procedural and AI-based systems to facilitate content creation. Regardless of method, the end product showcases the original ideas of our studio staff."

Earlier Debate

The Finals, a successful online combat game known for its smooth gunplay and demolition-heavy maps, encountered backlash for its use of AI ahead of its public debut. In its public testing phase, the game's audio designer revealed in a audio program that the studio had used AI tools for developing dialogue lines. This revelation generated instant criticism from professional performers and game developers, who claimed that synthetic speech were of reduced caliber compared to professional recordings and that such methods could replace voice-acting jobs.

Studio Explanation

Reacting to feedback, Embark Studios explained that they had contracted experienced talent to create initial dialogue for The Finals, but expanded these with text-to-speech tools to create extra material based on those original recordings. The company's explanation centered on the development speed gained from this technique.

Latest Developments

Regarding Arc Raiders, the game's design director clarified that the game does not employ artificial intelligence creation in any form," though he did not provide details on the exact nature of the Steam disclosure. He did confirm, however, that the identical voice system used for The Finals was also applied in Arc Raiders.

We employ a mix of professional actor recordings and audio generated via synthetic voice systems in our releases, depending on the requirements," explained a studio representative. In certain cases, capturing live performances where actors get together — allowing character chemistry and tension to shape the outcome — is something that contributes richness to our digital universes that technology can't emulate. In other instances, particularly if it relates to contextual in-game action call-outs, TTS allows us to have tailored VO where we otherwise wouldn't e.g. due to development pace."

Community Response

First reactions to the incorporation of automated systems in Arc Raiders has been somewhat nuanced, especially during the launch window. A portion of the community have expressed strong opposition.

• "AI voices are a stain on an otherwise incredible experience," wrote one player in a online discussion.
• I oppose that they used it in The Finals and am sad to hear they repeated it for this game," added another.
• The result was quickly detectable in the speech content for Shani," noted a another gamer.

That said, other players have taken a more open-minded position.

• "Don't give a fuck, they compensated performers and implemented it effectively," stated one online participant.
• This represents the most responsible as it currently exists, unfortunately," added another.

The persistent discussion surrounding AI implementation in video game production appears set to endure as studios balance development pace with performance standards and moral concerns.