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”
Embark Studios has defended its use of generative AI for voice acting in Arc Raiders, an extraction shooter, in a newly released video focused on the game’s audio design. Chief Creative Officer Stefan Strandberg stated that “we are not in the industry of replacing actors,” framing the initial use of AI-generated voice lines as a practical necessity rather than an attempt to supplant human performers.
According to the studio, the decision to use generative AI for initial voice recordings was motivated by the sheer volume of dialogue in the game. Rather than burden voice actors with reading an overwhelming number of lines, Embark used AI to generate placeholder voice performances based on voice actor samples. The studio argued that actors “would just go crazy if they had to read all of that,” suggesting the approach was implemented to protect creative talent from excessive demands.
Importantly, Embark has been gradually replacing the AI-generated lines with genuine human voice performances, indicating this was not a permanent substitution of actors. The company’s approach treated generative AI as a tool to handle initial recording volume while preserving opportunities for human voice talent in the final product.
The studio’s statement comes amid the game’s history of criticism over its use of generative AI. This announcement represents Embark’s attempt to contextualize and justify its AI voice acting methodology to both industry observers and players.