🔗 Share this article

Based on recent disclosures from the studio behind the title, Arc Raiders seems to make use of generative systems for generating certain dialogue. This revelation strongly echoes the issue that arose with the studio's 2023 hit, The Finals.

Title Introduction

Released on the last day of October for PS5, computer platforms, and Microsoft's console, Arc Raiders is described as a easier entry point to the loot-and-extract genre. Unlike complex games like Escape from Tarkov, it aims to offer a user-friendly gameplay. The title has generally earned strong ratings, currently holding a "very positive" rating on digital distribution based on over 8,000 user evaluations.

Development Approach

Within the product's store listing, a notice regarding "AI Generated Content" raises similarities: Throughout creation, we might apply automated and generative systems to facilitate content creation. In all cases, the resulting game showcases the artistic expression of our studio staff."

Earlier Debate

The Finals, a well-received multiplayer first-person shooter known for its responsive controls and dynamic battlefields, faced criticism for its implementation of artificial intelligence prior to its full release. During its pre-release trial, the project's audio lead disclosed in a podcast interview that the development team had used artificial intelligence systems for producing voice content. This announcement generated instant criticism from professional performers and industry professionals, who claimed that synthetic speech were of notably lower quality compared to human performances and that such methods could replace acting roles.

Studio Explanation

In response, Embark Studios explained that they had hired professional performers to produce primary spoken content for The Finals, but supplemented these with TTS technology to create extra content modeled after those professional deliveries. The studio's rationale highlighted the significant time savings gained from this approach.

Latest Developments

Regarding Arc Raiders, the game's design director recently stated that the game "in no way uses AI generation at all," though he did not provide details on the specific interpretation of the platform statement. He did confirm, however, that the same vocal technology employed in The Finals was also incorporated in Arc Raiders.

We employ a combination of professional actor recordings and material produced using TTS tools in our titles, based on the situation," commented a company spokesperson. In certain cases, recording real scenes where talent interacts — permitting actor relationships and drama to influence the result — is something that provides substance to our virtual environments that systems cannot duplicate. Other times, especially when it involves real-time combat communications, TTS allows us to have personalized speech where we could not such as due to development pace."

Community Response

First reactions to the use of AI technology in Arc Raiders has been fairly varied, particularly in the initial period. Some players have expressed strong opposition.

• "AI voices are a blemish on an generally excellent game," stated one gamer in a forum post.
• "I hate that they did it for The Finals and feel regret to hear they repeated it for this game," commented another.
• The result was instantly apparent in the speech content for a specific character," mentioned a third player.

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

• "Don't give a fuck, they paid voice actors and used it well," stated one online participant.
• "This is as ethical as it currently exists, unfortunately," added another.

The ongoing discussion regarding technology adoption in video game production appears set to endure as developers juggle creative efficiency with performance standards and moral concerns.