Arc Raiders Studio Yields to Criticism, Begins Removing AI Voices

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Following controversy surrounding its initial release, Embark Studios has begun replacing AI-generated dialogue in ARC Raiders with recordings from human actors, fulfilling their post-launch promise. According to CEO Patrick Soderlund, the studio is shifting its perspective on AI, now viewing it as a tool to aid development rather than replace human talent. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Soderlund confirmed that the amount of AI voices in the game has been reduced. He acknowledged the superior quality of professional actors, stating, “A real actor is better than AI—it simply is.” Soderlund explained that this new approach allows the team to experiment with different dialogue options before recording with actors in studio sessions. While AI is being phased out of primary dialogue, it has not been completely removed from the game and now serves a more utilitarian role. Text-to-speech technology is still used for non-immersive cues like the ping system’s audio. Embark Studios also licenses actors’ voices through text-to-speech, and continues to bring back many actors as updates roll out, ensuring in-person recording sessions for significant narrative interactions.

Human-voiced Dialogue in ARC Raiders Continues to Evolve Following Game Developers Conference Discussion

ARC Raiders was released on October 30, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. By February 2026, the game had reportedly sold over 14 million copies, with approximately $75 million spent on its development. The use of generative AI to voice certain characters was one of the most criticized aspects of the multiplayer shooter. This topic was also a point of discussion at this year’s Game Developers Conference, highlighting that the debate over using AI in game development extends beyond Embark Studios. Despite the changes, some players are still encountering text-to-speech content in ARC Raiders.

In Case You Missed It

In gaming news this week, we’ve got a mix of updates and surprises. First off, Bruno Pferd has spilled the beans on Embark Studios’ upcoming ARC Raiders update in his post “Embark Studios Confirms Beards Are Coming to ARC Raiders” (2026-02-20). Starting February 24th, players can don their facial hair and brave violent storms that’ll shake up PvPvE dynamics. Dive into the details about wind physics, debris shields, and storm rewards here Embark Studios Confirms Beards Are Coming to ARC Raiders. Meanwhile, in an unexpected turn, Sophie Laurent reports that Sony has closed Bluepoint Games, the studio behind remakes of PlayStation classics like Demon’s Souls and Shadow of the Colossus. With around 70 employees affected and a cancelled live-service God of War project, Sophie explores what this means for gaming’s future in her article “Sony Shuts Down Bluepoint Games, Creators of Top PlayStation Remakes” Sony Shuts Down Bluepoint Games, Creators of Top PlayStation Remakes. Lastly, Marcus Thompson uncovers a significant move in the gaming industry as Patrick Soderlund, founder of Embark Studios, assumes the position of Executive President at Nexon. Discover how this new role is bolstering the bond between Embark and Nexon, and its implications for their global gaming strategy in Marcus’ piece “Founder of Embark Studios Assumes Position of Executive President at Nexon” Founder of Embark Studios Assumes Position of Executive President at Nexon.