“A real professional actor is better than AI; that’s just how it is,” Embark Studios CEO said.
ARC Raiders, the popular extraction shooter from Embark Studios, has faced scrutiny over AI usage since its inception. However, it was only recently that the studio openly admitted to using AI-generated voice lines in the game. But the revelation comes with positive news as Embark says it is gradually replacing these AI voice lines with recordings from professional voice actors.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Embark CEO Patrick Soderlund explained that the studio has begun replacing many of the AI-generated voice lines with recordings from professional voice actors.
According to Soderlund, the team re-recorded several lines after the game’s launch period and ultimately concluded that human performances were simply better.
“We re-recorded some of the lines post-launch and made them with real voices,” he said. “There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that’s just how it is.”
However, Embark does not appear ready to abandon AI entirely. Soderlund described the technology as a production tool that helps developers test ideas internally.
The CEO cited an example in which AI can be used to quickly generate multiple variations of a voice line during development, allowing the team to experiment with different options before replacing them with recordings from real voice actors.
“It’s also a way for us to work, not replace actors,” he added. “We don’t necessarily believe in replacing humans with AI all the time.”
The broader games industry has been heavily affected by the rapid rise of generative AI. The technology has drawn criticism from many players and creatives, both for its perceived displacement of human artists and for concerns surrounding its environmental impact.
Despite the backlash, AI continues to surface in new releases and is gradually becoming more normalised across the industry. Recent titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6 have faced criticism over suspected AI-generated artwork, while even cosy or life-simulation titles like Heartopia and inZOI have been accused of relying on AI-generated assets.
Embark’s decision to replace AI-generated voice lines in ARC Raiders could represent a step in the right direction–though critics might argue it comes only after the studio had already taken a step in the opposite direction.
