'There was some really fair criticism': Arc Raiders' devs understand why players were so upset about its AI use but admit that it was 'too impractical to record' every voice line
News Source
β’Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:55:20 +0000
π° What Happened
The makers of Arc Raiders say players were right to be angry about the game's use of AI voices. Executive producer Aleksander Grondal said there was "some really fair criticism" and no point being defensive.
Players said many AI voice lines sounded flat and odd. The complaints stood out because other games, like Marathon, had strong human performances.
The studio, Embark, says it used AI only to ship updates faster, not to replace actors. Audio director Bence Pajor said the actors have been involved all along and their voices were used to train the system.
π The Backstory
Arc Raiders became a big hit when it launched, pulling in huge numbers of players. Then a row about AI voices took over the conversation. The actors had signed contracts allowing the studio to use their voices this way, but many players still felt let down.
Pajor said recording every possible line was "too impractical". The game changes fast, and new items need new dialogue all the time. Chief creative officer Stefan Strandberg says the studio wants to give actors more space in future updates.
π― Why It Matters
Games are built by people, and many players care who performs the characters. How studios use AI now will shape jobs in the industry for years.
The makers of Arc Raiders say players were right to be angry about the game's use of AI voices. Executive producer Aleksander Grondal said there was "some really fair criticism" and no point being defensive.
Players said many AI voice lines sounded flat and odd. The complaints stood out because other games, like Marathon, had strong human performances.
The studio, Embark, says it used AI only to ship updates faster, not to replace actors. Audio director Bence Pajor said the actors have been involved all along and their voices were used to train the system.
Arc Raiders became a big hit when it launched, pulling in huge numbers of players. Then a row about AI voices took over the conversation. The actors had signed contracts allowing the studio to use their voices this way, but many players still felt let down.
Pajor said recording every possible line was "too impractical". The game changes fast, and new items need new dialogue all the time. Chief creative officer Stefan Strandberg says the studio wants to give actors more space in future updates.
Games are built by people, and many players care who performs the characters. How studios use AI now will shape jobs in the industry for years.