Arc Raiders Shifts from AI to Human Voices for Enhanced Game Experience, Says CEO
Arc Raiders emerged as one of the standout titles of 2025, maintaining a strong presence on Steam. However, its initial reliance on AI-generated voice lines sparked some controversy among players. In response, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund announced that the team has replaced many of these text-to-speech lines with recordings from real voice actors, which he claims are “better” than the AI-generated options available at launch.
When Arc Raiders debuted in October on consoles and PC, it quickly became a favorite, garnering positive feedback from both critics and gamers. Yet, the game faced backlash when it was revealed that numerous voice lines, particularly those used for location pings, were created using AI text-to-speech technology, based on audio samples from actors who received a licensing fee. This revelation did not sit well with some players and somewhat overshadowed the game’s launch. The CEO of the game’s publisher noted that AI tools are becoming standard across the industry, but Söderlund and his team appear to be shifting their approach.
In a recent interview, Söderlund shared that a significant portion of the voice lines in Arc Raiders are now recorded by human actors, resulting in a reduction of AI-generated content compared to the game’s initial release.
“We re-recorded some of the lines post-launch with real voices,” Söderlund explained, emphasizing that their goal is not to “replace” human performers.
“There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that’s just how it is. We view [AI] primarily as a production tool. It allows us to test various lines internally without needing to record them all, helping us determine what to actually record. It’s a means to enhance our workflow, not to substitute actors. We don’t believe in replacing humans with AI all the time.”
Söderlund also mentioned that the studio compensates its actors for “all time spent” in the recording booth and continues to invite many of them back for ongoing game updates. In certain “select” cases, Embark compensates actors for granting permission to use their voices in text-to-speech for lines that are not critical to the overall immersion, primarily for location pings.
The key takeaway is that Söderlund recognizes the mixed feelings players have towards AI-generated content and is making efforts to assure them that Arc Raiders now features less of it than before. However, the game will still include text-to-speech voice lines, which may remain a sticking point for some players.
