Embark Studios’ Arc Raiders is one of the most popular multiplayer games right now with over 12 million copies sold across PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5. While the game is ridiculously popular, it has drawn some controversy due to its use of AI-generated voice lines.
In the popular extraction shooter, Embark Studios hired voice actors to train in-house generative AI tools on their voice prints. This allows the studio to rapidly introduce new voice lines without bringing voice actors back into studios to record lines which has proven controversial.
This isn’t the first time Embark has used this exact method of generative AI either. The developer’s free-to-play arena shooter The Finals made heavy use of AI voices for its talkative presenters.
In a recent discussion with GamesBeat, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund defended the studio’s use of generative AI. Söderlund, who previously worked on EA’s Battlefield series for more than two decades, claimed the studio isn’t use AI to “replace” anyone.
“We don’t use AI to not have to hire people or replace people or job groups or voice actors,” Söderlund said. “People have to take a step back and understand what it is and how it can be a big help to developers and be a tremendous benefit to players. I realize it is an intricate subject and discussion.”
While Söderlund, who is not a voice actor, may not see the issue in Embark’s use of AI performances in Arc Raiders, established actors have spoken out about the studio’s use of the technology. Neil Newbon, who plays the fantastic Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, told PCGamesN earlier this year that AI is simply “dull as hell”.
“Comparatively speaking, the amount of money it costs to do those voice lines compared to the rest of the game’s development is peanuts,” the actor said. “When a game’s successful, I don’t really get why [developers] don’t go ‘well, at the time we couldn’t afford to do it – it was too much or too difficult – but now we’ve been super successful, why don’t we go back and actually redo the lines with actors?’ That’s an option; I’m just saying.”
“I don’t think there’s a justification for taking people’s jobs away. I don’t really think it’s legitimate. If you’re going to not record the lines in the first place and just use AI to take somebody’s voice and manipulate it however the hell you want, that’s a problem. You’re robbing that performer of that day’s fee, and you’re robbing that performer of the ability to look after themselves or their family – most actors, notoriously, are not rich. Most of us struggle [for] our entire career.”
As one of the most successful multiplayer games in a long time, it’s not like Embark Studios is strapped for cash. As someone who likes the game but is put off by some of its “voice work”, Embark definitely could bring in its voice actors to record new lines at some point in the future.
