Embark Studios is phasing out AI-generated voice lines in its hit extraction shooter, Arc Raiders, with CEO Patrick Söderlund admitting that professional human actors deliver superior quality.
Acknowledging the Quality Gap
Following criticism similar to that faced by the studio’s previous title, The Finals, Embark has begun re-recording dialogue for Arc Raiders using human voice talent. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Söderlund addressed the shift, stating, “We re-recorded some of the lines post-launch and made them with real voices… There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that’s just how it is.”
AI Remains a Production Tool
Despite the move to prioritize human performances, Embark is not abandoning artificial intelligence entirely. Söderlund emphasized that the studio views the technology primarily as a production utility rather than a replacement for creative talent.
“We look at AI first and foremost as a production tool,” Söderlund explained. “We can test things internally. We can test 15 different lines without recording them, and then we know what to record. It’s also a way for us to work, not replace actors. We don’t necessarily believe in replacing humans with AI all the time.”
The Ongoing Debate on AI Ethics
The integration of AI in game development continues to spark debate, fueled by concerns regarding ethical implications, environmental impact, and economic displacement of creative professionals. While Embark’s decision to re-record lines acknowledges the artistic limitations of AI, the studio’s ongoing commitment to using the technology for prototyping suggests that Arc Raiders will continue to rely on AI for internal workflows. For players who have avoided the game specifically due to its use of synthetic voices, these updates represent a nuanced shift rather than a complete departure from the studio’s existing technical strategy.
