While Shroud thinks ARC Raiders should win GOTY, others are outraged over the use of AI in the game.
ARC Raiders is set in a dystopian world where machines have nearly won the war against humanity. The irony is that the use of artificial intelligence within the game itself has now sparked controversy in the gaming world.
The Core Of The Debate: ARC Raiders Uses AI For Voice Lines
ARC Raiders is the latest title from Embark Studios and is currently topping the charts. However, the use of AI-generated voice lines has caused frustration among some players and critics. Eurogamer gave the game only two out of five stars in its review, citing the use of AI to create its voice recordings as the reason.
This sparked a debate within the gaming community over whether the rating was justified or not. Some argued that there was nothing wrong with developers using AI as a tool to create a high-quality game. Others warned that excessive use of AI could put jobs at risk. The market is already challenging enough for voice actors as it is. Eventually, even the CEO of parent company Nexon responded to the controversy.
Nexon CEO Defends Embark And Faces Backlash
Nexon CEO Junghun Lee responded to the allegations. In his view, the use of AI in the development industry is completely normal. He pointed out that AI can significantly increase productivity during the development process and ease the workload for developers. He also emphasized that pretty much all development studios are already relying on such technologies.
In response, Strange Scaffold’s creative director Xavier Nelson Jr. spoke up and disagreed with Lee’s statements. In his view, AI is not yet fully established in the gaming industry, and far from all studios, whether indie or AAA, use it. He also described the excessive use of AI as a “skill issue.”
The differing assessments highlight how inconsistent the use of AI technologies currently is within game development.
Between Understanding And Criticism
It can be seen in different ways. On one hand, the use of AI voices presents a challenge for human voice actors. On the other hand, it serves as a tool for developers to work more efficiently and save resources. It is difficult to make a clear judgment about who is “right” in this case. However, one thing can be said: giving an otherwise good and popular game a score of just two out of five stars solely because of its AI voice lines is, in the end, perhaps questionable.
What do you think about the debate? Do the AI voice lines in ARC Raiders bother you? Let us know in the comments!
