Arc Raiders AI voices have started disappearing from the game as Embark Studios gradually replaces some AI-generated dialogue with performances from real actors.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund confirmed that several AI voice lines used in the game at launch have since been re-recorded with human performers. The move follows ongoing criticism from players who were uncomfortable with the game’s use of AI-generated speech when it released in 2025.
While Arc Raiders still uses some AI tools behind the scenes, Söderlund acknowledged that the difference in quality between AI voices and professional actors is significant.
Embark Has Re-Recorded Some AI Lines With Human Actors
According to Söderlund, the studio has already replaced a number of AI-generated voice lines with recordings from real voice actors through post-launch updates.
“We re-recorded some of the lines post-launch and made them with real voices,” Söderlund told GamesIndustry.biz.
He also made it clear that, from the studio’s perspective, AI simply does not match the performance quality of trained actors.
“There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI, that’s just how it is.”
The AI-generated dialogue was originally used in Arc Raiders for certain systems such as the in-match ping feature, where characters announce locations or communicate quick tactical information to teammates during gameplay.
These lines were produced using a text-to-speech model trained on voices provided by actors who had licensed their vocal data to the studio.
AI Was Originally Used For Efficiency In Live-Service Updates
Embark’s initial reasoning for using AI voices centred around development efficiency.
Because Arc Raiders is a live-service extraction shooter that receives regular updates, recording new lines for every small addition could require bringing voice actors back into the studio repeatedly. The AI system allowed the team to quickly generate placeholder or minor dialogue without scheduling new recording sessions every time the game changed.
Söderlund explained that the studio primarily treats AI as a development tool rather than a replacement for human performers.
“We look at AI first and foremost as a production tool. We can test things internally. We can test 15 different lines without recording them, and then we know what to record.”
In practice, that means AI can help prototype dialogue during development before the final version is performed by actors.
Voice Actors Are Still Paid And Brought Back For Updates
Another concern raised by players at launch was whether AI voices were being used to avoid paying voice actors.
Söderlund addressed that criticism directly in the interview, saying Embark continues to pay performers for their time and regularly brings them back for additional recordings as the game evolves.
“We pay our actors for all time spent with us in the booth and continue to bring many of them back as we carry on updating the game.”
For specific cases such as ping-system dialogue, the studio also compensates actors for licensing their voices so they can be used within Embark’s internal text-to-speech tools.
According to Söderlund, those AI-generated lines are typically reserved for audio that is less critical to immersion during gameplay.
AI In Game Development Remains A Controversial Topic
Arc Raiders became one of the most talked-about games of 2025, receiving strong reviews from critics and players and building a large audience on PC and consoles after launching on October 30, 2025.
Despite the positive reception, the use of AI-generated voice lines became a point of debate across the industry. Some players felt the technology undermined voice acting, while others viewed it as a practical tool for modern game development.
The discussion was further amplified when Nexon CEO Junghun Lee, whose company publishes Arc Raiders, previously suggested that players should assume “every game company is now using AI”.
That comment sparked pushback from some developers who disputed the claim, showing just how divided the industry remains on the topic.
Arc Raiders Continues To Grow After A Strong Launch
Since its release, Arc Raiders has remained one of Embark’s biggest successes.
The PvPvE extraction shooter reportedly passed 12.4 million copies sold in January 2026 and climbed to more than 14 million units by February, showing strong ongoing interest from players.
While the studio has not confirmed whether all AI-generated voice lines will eventually be replaced, the recent updates suggest Embark is adjusting its approach as player feedback continues to shape the live-service game.
With Arc Raiders still receiving new enemies, locations, and cosmetic content through updates, the balance between AI tools and traditional voice acting will likely remain an ongoing discussion as development continues.