Arc Raiders AI voice controversy explained

Arc Raider is just days away from its official launch, and as the hype continues to build, Embark Studios' inventive extraction shooter has been one of the most anticipated releases of the year. This is no easy task as this year has been defined by huge starts. Arc Raider Set in a futuristic world ravaged by giant killer robots, its unique environment and fun gameplay loop have cast a bright spotlight on the title.

Now the waiting Arc Raider is finally coming to an end, eager players will finally get to enter the impressive world that Embark Studios promised. After Arc RaiderA successful server slam earlier this month, the excitement has reached its peak. Unfortunately, this did not keep the extraction shooter free of controversy, as it is now speculated that Arc Raider uses AI for the voices of some of its characters.

Arc Raiders' AI Voice Controversy Comes Days Ahead of Its Launch

• The official Steam site for Arc Raider confirms the use of AI.

• Embark Studios has used AI voices in the past.

• Fans have shared examples of supposed AI dialogue.

It is important to note that Embark Studios has not officially confirmed or denied this Arc Raider uses AI voices for in-game characters or not. However, it has at least been confirmed via Steam that the game does indeed use AI to some extent. Steam's official site states: “During the development process, we may use procedural and artificial intelligence-based tools to assist in content creation. In all such cases, the final product reflects the creativity and expression of our own development team.”.” Of course, this description is pretty vague, so it's not clear which parts Arc Raider they contain AI-powered content, but that's not too surprising. Finalanother successful Embark Studios project, had its own controversy by featuring AI voices for text-to-speech.

In 2023, Final audio designers Carl Strandberg and Andreas Almstrom confirmed that the game used a mix of AI text-to-speech technology and real voices, with the former carrying most of the weight. The developers stated, “With a few exceptions, we use artificial intelligence, so all the contestants' voices, such as barks and commentators, are rendered text-to-speech by artificial intelligence,” while various sound effects, such as grunts and sounds of pain, are done in the studio. Strandberg and Almstrom went on to explain that they chose this route for efficiency, claiming that it allowed the developers to make changes “in hours, instead of months”, suggesting that hiring voice actors on the fly was not possible.

Naturally, this caused a lot of backlash from players and voice actors alike. Although Embark Studios remained tight-lipped on whether Arc Raider it uses or doesn't use the text-to-speech AI that developers have chosen to use in the past Final they definitely raised suspicions before the game was released.

In the Reddit post above by user Shwad00, the line delivery of several of the game's characters was questioned. Once Arc Raider is here, it will be interesting to see if any other examples of potential AI voices are shared on social media. Critics of the game's character voices note the choppy and rushed delivery of dialogue, a common feature in text-to-speech AI tools.

The Arc Raiders voice-over allegations add to the growing concern over the use of AI in game development

• Generative AI and AI-based tools in development have been a divisive topic in the gaming community.

• Many proponents of AI cite its efficiency and optimization properties, while many critics dislike how it eliminates job opportunities and argue that quality is sacrificed for quick turnaround.

In the last few years, especially this one, artificial intelligence has been at the fore. Debates about whether artificial intelligence should be used in creative industries are difficult to navigate. On the one hand, it's understandable how this could be useful for smaller indie studios, but when it comes to big companies like Sony and Microsoft, it also seems like a way to save money instead of hiring talented and capable programmers and artists.

Embark Studios CEO Patrick Soderlund recently spoke to Edge about his own feelings about using AI in game development, stating, “The beauty of video games, like any art form, is that — at least not yet — they can't be built by Al. I hope he never can. The human aspect is still essential.” I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, so for AI adopters and critics alike, this view can at least remain a solid middle ground that each side can hopefully continue to return to when the topic is raised. However, with news like Elon Musk's waves of teased AI-generated games, it can be hard for AI skeptics to remain optimistic when developers like Embark Studios make use of such technology.

At the end of the day, AI is a mirror of what humans have already accomplished in the past. Real voice actors potentially losing their jobs for quick results will continue to be troubling, regardless of context. It's understandable why the topic of AI in game development makes some fans uneasy. Over the years, gamers have developed emotional attachments to various titles and their stories because of the man-made elements. Whether it's the world building and gameplay created by developers or the acting of real actors, human-led creativity has made gaming as far as it has. The hype around Arc Raider is impressive and it will ultimately be up to the individual player whether the use of AI makes sense or not.

Released

October 30, 2025

ESRB

Teen / Violence, Blood