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According to recent disclosures from the studio behind the title, Arc Raiders reportedly make use of generative systems for producing certain dialogue. This revelation strongly echoes the situation that arose with the developer's previous success, The Finals.

Game Overview

Released on October 30th for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X, Arc Raiders is marketed as a easier introduction to the extraction shooter genre. In contrast with complex games like Escape from Tarkov, it seeks to offer a user-friendly gameplay. This release has mostly received positive feedback, currently holding a "very positive" rating on the popular platform based on numerous gamer feedback.

Technology Statement

Via the title's dedicated platform description, a clear disclosure regarding computer-assisted production draws comparisons: Throughout creation, we could utilize procedural and AI-based tools to assist with asset production. Regardless of method, the final output showcases the creativity and vision of our creative personnel."

Past Issue

The Finals, a successful competitive FPS famous for its fluid combat and demolition-heavy maps, faced criticism for its implementation of artificial intelligence prior to its official launch. During its October 2023 open beta, the game's audio designer revealed in a podcast interview that the development team had leveraged artificial intelligence systems for developing vocal tracks. This announcement prompted immediate criticism from voice actors and game developers, who claimed that synthetic speech were of inferior standard compared to actor deliveries and that such methods could displace voice-acting jobs.

Studio Explanation

In response, the development team explained that they had employed skilled talent to produce primary dialogue for The Finals, but enhanced these with TTS technology to produce supplementary material inspired by those original recordings. The developer's reasoning focused on the development speed achieved through this method.

Current Situation

Concerning Arc Raiders, the game's design director commented that the release does not employ generative AI whatsoever," though he declined to elaborate on the specific interpretation of the platform statement. He did admit, however, that the same vocal technology employed in The Finals was also incorporated in Arc Raiders.

Our approach involves mix of professional actor recordings and material produced using TTS tools in our games, according to the situation," commented a company spokesperson. "Sometimes, recording real scenes where performers collaborate — allowing actor relationships and conflict to define the final product — is something that adds depth to our digital universes that systems cannot duplicate. For different situations, notably when it relates to contextual in-game action call-outs, synthetic voice permits us to have tailored VO where we typically could not e.g. due to speed of implementation."

Player Reactions

Early feedback to the use of automated systems in Arc Raiders has been somewhat nuanced, especially during the initial period. Certain gamers have voiced significant concerns.

• "AI voices are a blemish on an mostly outstanding experience," commented one gamer in a community thread.
• I dislike that they implemented it in The Finals and feel regret to hear they did it again for this release," added another.
• The result was instantly apparent in the vocal lines for a specific character," noted a different user.

Nevertheless, different gamers have taken a more tolerant position.

• It doesn't bother me, they hired talent and used it well," commented one community member.
• This demonstrates acceptable as it gets these days, sadly," concluded another.

The ongoing debate regarding artificial intelligence use in video game production appears set to endure as companies balance production speed with artistic integrity and moral concerns.