- Embark Studios CEO confirms developers have re-recorded some of the AI-generated voice lines since launch.
- He believes AI is just a production tool meant to test things internally before recording with real actors.
- The AI use case is not meant to replace real actors in any capacity.
Arc Raiders has cemented itself as one of the most stable live-service releases that the industry has seen in a long time. The game is still going strong to this day, kept alive by a dedicated player base and heaps of meaningful updates.
Embark Studios was initially criticized for using AI-generated voice lines despite the consent of the actors. However, the studio seems to be backtracking on its earlier approach by replacing some of those AI-made lines with voices of real actors since launch.
Why it matters: Arc Raiders is taking more of a moderate approach with AI, unlike many other giant AAA teams in the industry. Players have commended the emphasis on real voice actors, while some argue that the current effort is still not enough.
Speaking to GamesIndustry, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Soderlund explains that the team has rerecorded some of the lines with real voice actors after launch and replaced them with the AI-generated ones. He accepts that there is a noticeable quality difference from AI.
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.
-Embark Studios CEO, Patrick Soderlund.
He argues that Embark uses AI as a production tool, not to replace real voice actors in most cases. This approach allows the studio to test 15 different voice lines using AI, then record the accepted one with the real voice actor for Arc Raiders.
The studio also pays the voice actors for all the time they spend in the booth and continues to bring them back for updates.
For those not in the know, Arc Raiders’ 3-year, $75 million development allegedly only included 70 people. Embark is already working on two new games thanks to the success of the live service project.
Do you think Embark Studios re-recording AI-generated voice lines with real actors after launch is a feasible approach? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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