Arc Raiders devs say that using generative AI voice acting was necessary as actors “would just go crazy if they had to read all of that”
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Developers at Embark Studios explained why they initially employed generative‑AI voice synthesis for the extraction shooter Arc Raiders. Audio director Bence Pajor said the sheer volume of line variations required for new weapons, items and updates would have overwhelmed human actors, creating scheduling conflicts and limiting design flexibility. The AI‑generated lines were trained on performances by voice talent Jo Rideout and Diana Gardner, who noted the approach freed them from constant recording sessions but raised concerns about ownership of their work. Embark now plans to replace most AI lines with human recordings, acknowledging player immersion issues and affirming that “we are not in the industry of replacing voice actors.” The shift follows criticism from reviewers and a “trojan horse” comment by Nexon about AI use in small‑team development.
💡 Why It Matters
- · It shows how AI can temporarily solve production bottlenecks but still requires human talent to preserve player immersion and protect creative rights.
