Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios is one of the most prominent studios using AI in game development today. While the studio has been replacing its Gen AI voices within its aforementioned extraction shooter with real human performances, machine learning fuels a lot of the online game.
Embark’s Arc Raiders makes heavy use of machine learning to power the physics-based behaviour of its ARC enemies. This is a widely accepted use of AI whereas generative artwork, music, and voice performances are largely hated due to their reliance on stolen works from other content.
In a recent market briefing from publisher Nexon, Embark CEO Patrick Soderlund discussed the rise of AI in game development, explaining that most studios “will get it wrong” when implementing the technology into their products.
“Let me offer some perspective on a topic you’ve heard about from every company this year: AI,” the CEO said. “Every company has a plan; most will get it wrong.”
Soderland explained that other developers are currently “committing big investments in tools”, but claimed that “tools won’t help because they’ve misread the challenge”. The CEO claimed that “the tools are available to everyone, but not everyone has the knowledge and experience to use them”.
While Embark has seen success with its use of AI technology, especially as its ethical AI powers the most iconic part of Arc Raiders’ gameplay, Soderland claims that studios are racing to make use of the technology without knowing where to use it. “AI may be a race, but the winners won’t be the first movers – the winners will be the ones who understood the challenge,” the CEO said.
The last year has seen a significant pushback against AI in the video game space, especially following the awful AI use in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Larian Studios, the developer behind Baldur’s Gate 3, was heavily criticised for using AI during pre-production on Divinity, and will refrain from using the technology for the remainder of development.
Even outside of video games, AI usage has been largely criticised with tabletop company Games Workshop announcing a blanket ban on the technology to protect human workers. This ban was backed by former Warhammer designer Jervis Johnson who called the technology the “asbestos of the internet” that companies will spend years trying to undo.
LLMs and AI algorithms have existed in video games for decades, but fans have clearly pushed back against AI that is built on stolen artworks and other content with the vast majority of vocal gamers fighting for real artists to create real art in the products they buy.
