🔗 Share this article

Per developer statements from the studio behind the title, Arc Raiders seems to employ AI tools for producing some dialogue. This revelation is strikingly similar to the situation that surrounded the developer's 2023 hit, The Finals.

Title Introduction

Launched on the last day of October for PlayStation 5, computer platforms, and Microsoft's console, Arc Raiders is positioned as a gentler entry point to the competitive survival genre. Compared to established behemoths like Escape from Tarkov, it aims to offer a welcoming adventure. This release has largely been favorable reviews, presently achieving a highly favorable score on digital distribution based on thousands of user evaluations.

Technology Statement

On the title's dedicated store listing, a specific statement regarding computer-assisted production invites parallels: In the production phase, we could utilize algorithmic and intelligent systems to assist with material generation. In all cases, the final output embodies the artistic expression of our development team."

Earlier Debate

The Finals, a well-received competitive FPS famous for its responsive controls and demolition-heavy maps, faced criticism for its implementation of artificial intelligence even before its public debut. In its public testing phase, the title's sound specialist disclosed in a online discussion that the development team had used generative technology for producing dialogue lines. This statement prompted immediate negative reaction from voice actors and industry professionals, who argued that synthetic speech were of notably lower quality compared to professional recordings and that such practices could displace acting roles.

Developer Response

Addressing concerns, the development team stated that they had contracted experienced performers to produce primary dialogue for The Finals, but supplemented these with synthetic voice systems to generate additional content inspired by those original recordings. The company's explanation highlighted the development speed obtained via this method.

Latest Developments

Regarding Arc Raiders, the title's creative lead recently stated that the release does not employ artificial intelligence creation at all," though he did not provide details on the exact nature of the store notice. He did acknowledge, however, that the same vocal technology employed in The Finals was also applied in Arc Raiders.

Our approach involves blend of live performance content and audio generated via TTS tools in our releases, based on the context," explained a company spokesperson. For specific scenarios, filming actual interactions where performers collaborate — permitting performance dynamics and tension to shape the outcome — is something that adds depth to our digital universes that technology can't emulate. In other instances, particularly if it involves contextual in-game action call-outs, TTS allows us to have customized dialogue where we could not e.g. due to production timelines."

Community Response

First reactions to the use of automated systems in Arc Raiders has been somewhat nuanced, especially during the launch window. Some players have voiced significant concerns.

• Synthetic speech represents a stain on an generally excellent title," wrote one gamer in a online discussion.
• I oppose that they implemented it in The Finals and am disappointed to hear they employed it once more for this release," responded another.
• The result was instantly apparent in the vocal lines for one protagonist," observed a another gamer.

However, some users have adopted a more tolerant stance.

• "Don't give a fuck, they compensated performers and implemented it effectively," wrote one community member.
• This demonstrates acceptable as it is possible nowadays, unfortunately," concluded another.

The persistent debate surrounding artificial intelligence use in interactive entertainment seems likely to continue as studios balance development pace with performance standards and responsible practices.