🔗 Share this article

Based on recent disclosures from the game's developer, Arc Raiders seems to utilize artificial intelligence technology for generating some dialogue. This news closely resembles the debate that emerged around the studio's 2023 hit, The Finals.

Title Introduction

Debuted on October 30 for PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox, Arc Raiders is described as a easier entry point to the extraction shooter style. Compared to more hardcore titles like Escape from Tarkov, it seeks to offer a welcoming experience. The title has mostly received strong ratings, presently achieving a highly favorable rating on digital distribution based on thousands of player reviews.

Technology Statement

On the product's platform description, a clear disclosure regarding artificially created material invites parallels: "During development, we might apply automated and generative technologies to assist with material generation. Regardless of method, the resulting game showcases the creativity and vision of our studio staff."

Previous Controversy

The Finals, a successful competitive FPS famous for its fluid combat and demolition-heavy maps, faced criticism for its implementation of artificial intelligence even before its official launch. In its October 2023 open beta, the project's audio lead mentioned in a podcast interview that the development team had employed artificial intelligence systems for producing dialogue lines. This revelation prompted immediate criticism from industry talent and creative personnel, who argued that AI-generated voices were of inferior standard compared to human performances and that such approaches could eliminate performance opportunities.

Studio Explanation

In response, the company clarified that they had hired professional talent to produce primary dialogue for The Finals, but enhanced these with synthetic voice systems to create extra material inspired by those original recordings. The company's explanation highlighted the production efficiency obtained via this technique.

Latest Developments

About Arc Raiders, the game's design director clarified that the title "in no way uses AI generation in any form," though he did not provide details on the exact nature of the store notice. He did admit, however, that the equivalent speech tools implemented in The Finals was also applied in Arc Raiders.

Our approach involves mix of recorded voice audio and audio generated via synthetic voice systems in our games, depending on the requirements," stated a studio representative. "Sometimes, capturing live performances where actors get together — enabling performance dynamics and tension to influence the result — is something that contributes richness to our game worlds that systems cannot duplicate. Other times, notably when it involves contextual in-game action call-outs, synthetic voice permits us to have customized dialogue where we could not such as due to production timelines."

Community Response

Initial response to the incorporation of AI technology in Arc Raiders has been fairly varied, especially during the early days. A portion of the community have voiced significant concerns.

• Synthetic speech represents a flaw in an mostly outstanding game," commented one player in a online discussion.
• "I hate that they implemented it in The Finals and feel regret to hear they employed it once more for this game," commented another.
• The result was instantly apparent in the dialogue delivery for Shani," noted a third player.

Nevertheless, other players have expressed a more accepting position.

• It doesn't bother me, they hired talent and implemented it effectively," wrote one community member.
• "This is as ethical as it gets these days, I'm afraid," added another.

The persistent debate about technology adoption in video game production appears set to endure as developers balance creative efficiency with artistic integrity and responsible practices.