🔗 Share this article

Based on recent disclosures from the game's developer, Arc Raiders seems to make use of AI tools for producing select voice lines. This news strongly echoes the situation that arose with the developer's previous success, The Finals.

Title Introduction

Debuted on October 30 for PS5, Windows PC, and Microsoft's console, Arc Raiders is positioned as a gentler entry point to the extraction shooter genre. Unlike established behemoths like Escape from Tarkov, it strives to offer a more approachable experience. The title has mostly received strong ratings, maintaining a highly favorable reception on Steam based on over 8,000 user evaluations.

Technology Statement

Within the title's dedicated store listing, a specific statement regarding "AI Generated Content" draws comparisons: "During development, we may employ procedural and AI-based tools to support asset production. In all cases, the final output showcases the artistic expression of our creative personnel."

Past Issue

The Finals, a popular online combat game known for its fluid combat and dynamic battlefields, faced criticism for its adoption of generative tools prior to its full release. Throughout its public testing phase, the game's audio designer disclosed in a podcast interview that the studio had used AI tools for developing voice content. This announcement prompted immediate backlash from voice actors and game developers, who claimed that synthetic speech were of notably lower quality compared to professional recordings and that such practices could eliminate voice-acting jobs.

Studio Explanation

Addressing concerns, the development team clarified that they had hired professional voice actors to record original voice lines for The Finals, but supplemented these with synthetic voice systems to generate additional content based on those initial performances. The studio's rationale focused on the development speed obtained via this technique.

Current Situation

Concerning Arc Raiders, the title's creative lead commented that the release "in no way uses generative AI whatsoever," though he avoided specifics on the exact nature of the store notice. He did confirm, however, that the equivalent speech tools implemented in The Finals was also utilized in Arc Raiders.

We employ a mix of live performance content and content created through TTS tools in our releases, based on the situation," commented a development team member. "Sometimes, capturing live performances where actors get together — allowing character chemistry and drama to influence the result — is something that contributes richness to our digital universes that AI cannot replicate. Other times, especially when it concerns contextual in-game action call-outs, TTS allows us to have customized dialogue where we typically could not e.g. due to production timelines."

Community Response

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

• Artificial intelligence dialogue is a stain on an generally excellent title," commented one user in a online discussion.
• I oppose that they used it in The Finals and feel regret to hear they employed it once more for this title," commented another.
• The result was instantly apparent in the speech content for one protagonist," noted a another gamer.

That said, other players have taken a more tolerant stance.

• "Don't give a fuck, they compensated performers and used it well," commented one forum user.
• This demonstrates acceptable as it currently exists, sadly," concluded another.

The persistent discussion regarding AI implementation in video game production looks prepared to endure as companies juggle development pace with creative quality and moral concerns.