Arc Raiders Developer Outlines Position on AI Use in Game Development
Embark Studios commented on the prospects of using artificial intelligence in their projects following the success of the multiplayer game Arc Raiders.
Arc Raiders, released by the Embark Studios team, has confidently entered the ranks of the most popular multiplayer projects of the year. However, its release sparked lively discussions within the gaming community. The reason was the use of text-to-speech (TTS) technology for character voices and in-game messages, which elicited mixed reactions among players.
In an interview with PCGamesN, Arc Raiders Design Director Virgilius Watkins elaborated on the company's approach to implementing AI technologies. He noted that the use of TTS during the development stage was a necessity. At that time, the studio faced limited resources and was unable to hire professional actors for full-scale game voiceovers.
Despite the obvious commercial success of Arc Raiders, Embark Studios does not intend to transition to the widespread adoption of AI in the production process. Watkins emphasized that the studio maintains a balanced position and does not lean towards extremes. Each technological solution is evaluated by the team solely from the standpoint of its appropriateness and ability to ensure the required level of quality for the final product.
Studio representatives particularly stressed that artificial intelligence is viewed exclusively as an auxiliary tool, not as a replacement for the creative work of professionals. "We're not going to open the floodgates for all types of AI," Watkins stated, underscoring the company's commitment to traditional development methods.
At the same time, the developers do not deny the validity of the criticism regarding the quality of TTS voiceovers. Embark Studios acknowledges that in future projects, the degree of reliance on such technologies may gradually decrease. Nevertheless, the studio remains ready to apply AI solutions in cases where they genuinely contribute to enhancing the quality of the game product.