I’ve spent around 45 hours playing ARC Raiders since it came out, and I keep having the same uneasy feeling: a game about humans fighting machines seems to be negatively affected by the technology used to make it. This really struck me during a chat with a character in the game. I had just finished a successful mission with two teammates and even completed a quest, but the disconnect was still there.
We were joking around in voice chat when I clicked on Celeste, the shopkeeper in ARC Raiders who handles basic materials. Her simple, unremarkable voice, as she acknowledged my completed quest, suddenly felt draining, like it was stealing my good mood. That’s when I started to understand the recent online discussion about ARC Raiders and its use of AI-generated content.
What ARC Raiders Actually Does With AI
The game ARC Raiders actually uses two different kinds of artificial intelligence, and it’s important to understand this distinction. One AI system focuses on how the enemies move. Embark Studios’ Tom Solberg explains it like training a dog – the AI receives ‘rewards’ for realistic movements, learning to react naturally to the environment and players over time.
Another feature is the use of realistic text-to-speech (TTS) voices in ARC Raiders. These voices were created using recordings of actual voice actors. Embark says this lets them add new dialogue very quickly – they can create voice lines in just a few hours, instead of having to book studio time and bring actors back for recordings. While the actors were paid and agreed to have their voices used, this aspect of the game has still caused some controversy.
The same TTS is used to modulate the voices of ARC Raiders players.
How AI Has Split ARC Raiders’ Community
If you’ve been following the discussion around the game ARC Raiders, you’ll notice players are split into two main groups. One side believes the game’s use of AI voices is acceptable because the actors involved gave their permission and were paid for their work. They also point out that the AI voices aren’t used extensively and feel the negative reaction is excessive considering it’s a small part of the game.
Fans also highlight that AI voice modification in ARC Raiders is a helpful accessibility feature, letting players join in without needing to use their real voice.
Opponents worry this sets a bad example, and they’re raising valid points I struggle to address. Is it truly consent if someone feels pressured to agree to something for fear of losing their job? And more concerningly, what if this practice becomes widespread in larger, less careful companies?
I’ve been trying to form a firm opinion about this game, but I’m still on the fence. The game itself is fantastic, and honestly, the AI voices don’t really factor into why I enjoy playing. However, whenever I hear them, it brings up frustrating thoughts about lost opportunities in my own field and the strange situation we’re all in.
ARC Raiders’ Cardinal Sin: Irony
Okay, so it’s not exactly a groundbreaking observation, but it really hits me with ARC Raiders: the whole point of the game is us, as humans, fighting back against machines! We’re thrown into this world where robots have basically taken over, forcing everyone to live underground and scavenge for anything they can find. It’s all about showing how humans can survive and fight back, even when it feels like machines are taking over our lives – that’s what the game is about.
Okay, so I was playing, and I came across this trader, and honestly, it was weird. The voice wasn’t some actor – it was made by AI, trained on recordings of people who were supposedly better suited for the role. It wasn’t a deep, meaningful thing, just… there. It hit me that Embark made a game about robots taking over jobs, and then they actually used AI to create this character’s voice. It felt a little awkward, and honestly, a part of me wonders if they knew how strange it was and just didn’t care.
Embarks AI Voices Diminish ARC Raiders Best Quality
Reviewers have pointed out a frustrating issue with ARC Raiders: its strongest moments come from the interactions between players. The game shines when people play together, creating funny and dramatic situations – something rare in the competitive world of extraction shooters. So, using cheaper, artificial voices instead of real actors feels like a bad trade-off, especially because it hurts the very thing that makes ARC Raiders unique and enjoyable.
The Industry Context ARC Debaters Can’t Ignore
However, ARC Raiders isn’t being developed in isolation. EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, has emphasized that artificial intelligence is central to EA’s overall strategy. Glen Schofield, the creator of Dead Space, has discussed using generative AI to improve aspects of game development. Now, Junghun Lee, CEO of ARC Raiders‘ publisher Nexon, has stated he thinks all game companies are currently utilizing AI, and believes it can make game creation more efficient.
Additionally, Square Enix ordered mass layoffs while reorganizing around AI initiatives.
Looking at how things have played out with other games and tech, this guy’s spot on, and that’s exactly what worries me. It feels like most bosses only see AI as a way to save money – they want the same results, or even better, but with fewer people working. They just don’t get why making good games is an art, and they definitely don’t care about the artists who actually create it.
Even A Few “Ethical AI” Voices Risk Normalization
Some people might think this criticism is overblown, but that’s exactly how accepting AI in games happens. It starts with small, seemingly harmless uses – like background characters – but eventually, that acceptance paves the way for more significant AI integration. The takeaway from ARC Raiders isn’t about using AI carefully or sparingly. Instead, it demonstrates that players will accept AI in games as long as the game itself is enjoyable. Every download of the game, including mine, reinforces that idea.
It’s frustrating because the game is actually enjoyable, and I find myself continuing to play it – I’m part of the issue I’m pointing out. I don’t believe that means we should stop playing ARC Raiders, or that enjoying it makes anyone a bad person. The relationship between art and business is complex, and most of us can’t always afford or even manage to make entertainment choices based solely on ethics. Still, we need to be realistic about what’s going on.
ARC Raiders and the Art/Business of Video Games
Video games are often large-scale collaborations, bringing together many artists with a common goal. When a game like ARC Raiders truly excels, it’s worth recognizing. However, successful games also become benchmarks for the industry, demonstrating what other developers can achieve – and what players enjoy – which means they deserve careful examination.
Arc Raiders could have been a huge success, but it ultimately serves as a warning about how quickly we can overlook problematic elements if a game is enjoyable. I’ll likely continue playing, but that doesn’t change the fact that Arc Raiders has a major contradiction, and I won’t stop highlighting it. Accepting mediocrity over addressing real issues sends a message to game developers that principles can be sacrificed for entertainment.
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2025-11-14 14:16