Arc Raiders replaced some of its AI-generated voice lines, using professional actors instead

## Summary
Embark Studios' CEO Patrick Söderlund recently told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio "re-recorded" some of the AI-generated voice lines in Arc Raiders with human voices, only after its successful launch in October. "There is a quality difference," Söderlund told GamesIndustry.biz. "A real professional actor is better than AI; that's just how it is." With Arc Raiders' player count peaking at nearly half a million users on Steam , the game's breakout success was still marred by its use of text-to-speech AI. While there was no generative AI used for the visuals of the extraction shooter, Embark Studios paid its actors for approval to license their voices for text-to-speech AI, according to Söderlund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to the criticism, Embark Studios is seemingly reversing course and relying more on its voice actors. Söderlund said that the studio pays its voice actors for their time in the recording booth and will "continue to bring many of them back as we carry on updating the game." However, it's important to note that Söderlund told GamesIndustry.biz that "some" of the AI-generated lines were replaced by voice actors, which could indicate that the studio isn't looking to completely ditch its text-to-speech AI anytime soon.

## Article Content
Embark Studios
In an unexpected twist, humans have taken some jobs back from AI. Embark Studios' CEO Patrick Söderlund recently told
GamesIndustry.biz
that the studio "re-recorded" some of the AI-generated voice lines in
Arc Raiders
with human voices, only after its successful launch in October.
"There is a quality difference," Söderlund told
GamesIndustry.biz.
"A real professional actor is better than AI; that's just how it is."
With Arc Raiders' player count peaking at nearly half a million users on
Steam
, the game's breakout success was still marred by its use of text-to-speech AI. While there was no generative AI used for the visuals of the extraction shooter, Embark Studios paid its actors for approval to license their voices for text-to-speech AI, according to Söderlund. Even though Söderlund said that the text-to-speech AI was reserved for lines "that aren't as essential to the immersion of the experience," many players weren't happy with this creative decision.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Responding to the criticism, Embark Studios is seemingly reversing course and relying more on its voice actors. Söderlund said that the studio pays its
voice actors
for their time in the recording booth and will "continue to bring many of them back as we carry on updating the game." However, it's important to note that Söderlund told
GamesIndustry.biz
that "some" of the AI-generated lines were replaced by voice actors, which could indicate that the studio isn't looking to completely ditch its text-to-speech AI anytime soon.
About our ads

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Embark Studios' CEO Patrick Söderlund recently told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio "re-recorded" some of the AI-generated voice lines in Arc Raiders with human voices, only after its successful launch in October. "There is a quality difference," Söderlund told GamesIndustry.biz. "A real professional actor is better than AI; that's just how it is." With Arc Raiders' player count peaking at nearly half a million users on Steam , the game's breakout success was still marred by its use of text-to-speech AI.
- Söderlund said that the studio pays its voice actors for their time in the recording booth and will "continue to bring many of them back as we carry on updating the game." However, it's important to note that Söderlund told GamesIndustry.biz that "some" of the AI-generated lines were replaced by voice actors, which could indicate that the studio isn't looking to completely ditch its text-to-speech AI anytime soon.

### Areas for Consideration
- Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to the criticism, Embark Studios is seemingly reversing course and relying more on its voice actors.

### Implications
- Söderlund said that the studio pays its voice actors for their time in the recording booth and will "continue to bring many of them back as we carry on updating the game." However, it's important to note that Söderlund told GamesIndustry.biz that "some" of the AI-generated lines were replaced by voice actors, which could indicate that the studio isn't looking to completely ditch its text-to-speech AI anytime soon.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers embark, studios, voice topics. Notable strengths include discussion of embark. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 246.