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Per newly revealed information from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders seems to utilize generative systems for producing select spoken content. This revelation is strikingly similar to the debate that emerged around the developer's previous success, The Finals.

Game Overview

Launched on the last day of October for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Microsoft's console, Arc Raiders is positioned as a more accessible entry point to the loot-and-extract genre. Compared to more hardcore titles like Escape from Tarkov, it seeks to offer a user-friendly experience. The game has largely been favorable reviews, maintaining a highly favorable rating on digital distribution based on numerous user evaluations.

Technology Statement

On the game's official platform description, a specific statement regarding computer-assisted production raises similarities: In the production phase, we may employ automated and generative systems to support material generation. Regardless of method, the resulting game reflects the creativity and vision of our development team."

Past Issue

The Finals, a successful multiplayer first-person shooter famous for its fluid combat and dynamic battlefields, encountered backlash for its implementation of artificial intelligence even before its public debut. In its October 2023 open beta, the title's sound specialist disclosed in a online discussion that the development team had used generative technology for creating vocal tracks. This revelation generated instant negative reaction from professional performers and industry professionals, who stated that synthetic speech were of inferior standard compared to actor deliveries and that such practices could replace voice-acting jobs.

Company Position

Addressing concerns, the development team clarified that they had employed skilled talent to record original voice lines for The Finals, but expanded these with synthetic voice systems to produce supplementary content based on those initial performances. The company's explanation highlighted the significant time savings gained from this technique.

Present Circumstances

Concerning Arc Raiders, the title's creative lead clarified that the game "in no way uses generative AI at all," though he declined to elaborate on the specific interpretation of the platform statement. He did confirm, however, that the same vocal technology implemented in The Finals was also applied in Arc Raiders.

We employ a combination of professional actor recordings and audio generated via TTS tools in our releases, depending on the context," stated a studio representative. In certain cases, capturing live performances where actors get together — allowing actor relationships and drama to define the final product — is something that provides substance to our digital universes that technology can't emulate. Other times, particularly if it relates to dynamic gameplay announcements, text-to-speech enables us to have customized dialogue where we typically could not such as due to development pace."

Player Reactions

Early feedback to the implementation of AI technology in Arc Raiders has been fairly varied, especially during the early days. Certain gamers have voiced significant concerns.

• "AI voices are a flaw in an otherwise incredible experience," commented one user in a community thread.
• I dislike that they did it for The Finals and am sad to hear they repeated it for this release," added another.
• The result was quickly detectable in the speech content for one protagonist," observed a another gamer.

That said, different gamers have adopted a more open-minded attitude.

• "Don't give a fuck, they compensated performers and used it well," commented one community member.
• This represents the most responsible as it is possible nowadays, unfortunately," continued another.

The persistent discussion about technology adoption in game development appears set to continue as developers balance development pace with artistic integrity and moral concerns.