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Based on newly revealed information from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders appears to employ artificial intelligence technology for generating select voice lines. This revelation is strikingly similar to the issue that surrounded the studio's 2023 hit, The Finals.

Release Details

Released on the last day of October for Sony's console, PC, and Xbox Series X, Arc Raiders is described as a easier on-ramp to the competitive survival style. Unlike more hardcore titles like Escape from Tarkov, it strives to offer a welcoming experience. The title has generally earned favorable reviews, currently holding a "very positive" reception on Steam based on over 8,000 player reviews.

Development Approach

Within the game's official Steam page, a notice regarding computer-assisted production draws comparisons: "During development, we could utilize procedural and AI-based technologies to support asset production. In every instance, the end product showcases the original ideas of our studio staff."

Past Issue

The Finals, a popular competitive FPS known for its fluid combat and destructive environments, faced criticism for its adoption of generative tools prior to its public debut. During its public testing phase, the game's audio designer disclosed in a audio program that the company had leveraged artificial intelligence systems for producing voice content. This announcement prompted immediate backlash from voice actors and creative personnel, who stated that computer-created dialogue were of inferior standard compared to professional recordings and that such practices could replace voice-acting jobs.

Studio Explanation

Addressing concerns, the development team stated that they had contracted experienced voice actors to create initial dialogue for The Finals, but enhanced these with TTS technology to create extra material inspired by those initial performances. The company's explanation centered on the production efficiency gained from this technique.

Present Circumstances

Regarding Arc Raiders, the project's design head clarified that the release "in no way uses AI generation in any form," though he did not provide details on the precise meaning of the Steam disclosure. He did confirm, however, that the equivalent speech tools employed in The Finals was also applied in Arc Raiders.

"We use a combination of professional actor recordings and content created through TTS tools in our releases, according to the context," stated a studio representative. In certain cases, recording real scenes where actors get together — permitting character chemistry and conflict to shape the outcome — is something that adds depth to our game worlds that systems cannot duplicate. For different situations, especially when it concerns contextual in-game action call-outs, synthetic voice permits us to have tailored VO where we typically could not e.g. due to speed of implementation."

Gamer Feedback

First reactions to the incorporation of generative tools in Arc Raiders has been fairly varied, particularly in the initial period. Certain gamers have expressed strong opposition.

• Artificial intelligence dialogue is a stain on an generally excellent title," commented one user in a community thread.
• "I hate that they implemented it in The Finals and am sad to hear they did it again for this game," responded another.
• The effect was immediately noticeable in the speech content for Shani," noted a third player.

However, some users have adopted a more tolerant attitude.

• I don't care, they paid voice actors and used it well," stated one community member.
• This represents the most responsible as it is possible nowadays, sadly," concluded another.

The continuing controversy regarding AI implementation in interactive entertainment seems likely to continue as companies juggle production speed with performance standards and ethical considerations.