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Based on developer statements from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders seems to employ AI tools for creating some dialogue. This news strongly echoes the debate that emerged around the studio's previous success, The Finals.

Release Details

Released on October 30th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X, Arc Raiders is described as a more accessible introduction to the extraction shooter category. Compared to more hardcore titles like Escape from Tarkov, it aims to offer a user-friendly experience. The game has mostly received positive feedback, maintaining a "very positive" rating on Steam based on thousands of gamer feedback.

Technology Statement

Within the product's platform description, a clear disclosure regarding "AI Generated Content" draws comparisons: "During development, we may employ procedural and AI-based technologies to facilitate content creation. In all cases, the resulting game reflects the artistic expression of our studio staff."

Earlier Debate

The Finals, a well-received multiplayer first-person shooter recognized for its fluid combat and destructive environments, encountered backlash for its adoption of generative tools ahead of its official launch. Throughout its public testing phase, the title's sound specialist revealed in a online discussion that the studio had employed artificial intelligence systems for creating voice content. This announcement generated instant backlash from professional performers and game developers, who claimed that AI-generated voices were of notably lower quality compared to actor deliveries and that such methods could replace voice-acting jobs.

Company Position

Reacting to feedback, the development team clarified that they had contracted experienced voice actors to record original voice lines for The Finals, but enhanced these with TTS technology to produce supplementary content based on those initial performances. The developer's reasoning focused on the significant time savings obtained via this method.

Current Situation

Regarding Arc Raiders, the project's design head recently stated that the release "in no way uses AI generation at all," though he did not provide details on the exact nature of the Steam disclosure. He did acknowledge, however, that the same vocal technology used for The Finals was also utilized in Arc Raiders.

We employ a combination of professional actor recordings and content created through TTS tools in our titles, depending on the requirements," explained a studio representative. "Sometimes, capturing live performances where performers collaborate — permitting performance dynamics and drama to shape the outcome — is something that contributes richness to our game worlds that AI cannot replicate. Other times, particularly if it involves contextual in-game action call-outs, text-to-speech enables us to have customized dialogue where we typically could not such as due to production timelines."

Gamer Feedback

Initial response to the use of automated systems in Arc Raiders has been fairly varied, particularly in the early days. Certain gamers have shown clear disapproval.

• "AI voices are a stain on an mostly outstanding experience," wrote one player in a community thread.
• I dislike that they used it in The Finals and feel regret to hear they employed it once more for this release," responded another.
• "It was instantly apparent in the dialogue delivery for Shani," noted a third player.

However, some users have expressed a more tolerant stance.

• It doesn't bother me, they hired talent and used it well," commented one community member.
• "This is as ethical as it is possible nowadays, I'm afraid," continued another.

The persistent controversy about artificial intelligence use in video game production seems likely to persist as companies juggle production speed with artistic integrity and moral concerns.