As ARC Raiders Takes Off, Developer Embark Defends Its Use of AI Tools

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ARC Raiders is the hot new online multiplayer shooter everyone’s talking about right now.

The game is clearly successful, with lots of people playing and positive reviews. However, it still faces some criticism.

So, the team at Embark Studios – the folks behind The Finals – used AI to help build the game, and honestly, it’s been a big help. Their Chief Creative Officer, Stefan Strandberg, recently spoke up to explain why they decided to go that route, and to defend their decision. It’s cool to see developers embracing new tech!

I was really happy to hear the developers of ARC Raiders talking to Eurogamer and clarifying how they approached AI. They made it clear that generative AI wasn’t used to create the game, but they did explain which AI tools they did use and how those tools helped them during development. It’s good to know what’s going on ‘under the hood’!

Our team uses AI to help with content creation, but it’s always to boost our creativity, not replace it, explains Strandberg. Defining AI is tricky, but we’re using it in interesting ways. For example, the movement of some enemies in Arc has been trained using machine learning, leading to unique and dynamic reactions – like an enemy trying to regain balance after losing a leg. That’s one example of how we’re using AI.

The game also combines AI-generated speech with actual voice actors, similar to how Embark Studios handled audio in their game, The Finals.

I just finished recording with two fantastic actors you may have heard in the pre-order trailer. Using real actors brings a special energy to the project, and as someone who started as a sound designer, I believe that dynamic between two performers is irreplaceable.

We’re using text-to-speech technology to expand the game in certain areas – particularly where there’s a lot of repetitive dialogue or where recording with voice actors wouldn’t be the best use of their time. While we’re leveraging this technology, the game itself doesn’t use any AI that creates voices.

According to Strandberg, integrating AI tools has allowed Embark to remain a lean and effective team, avoiding the pitfalls of becoming a large, unwieldy group that’s prone to failure.

When we started our studio, we really wanted to be quick to adopt new tech. It’s tough for older studios – the ones around for 15 years or so – because they’re built differently. We specifically designed our studio to be flexible and take advantage of new technologies, pushing them as far as we could, all while staying small and being willing to try risky, creative ideas. Honestly, it’s let us do way more with a small team than we could have otherwise – we’ve been able to add features and scope to our games that just wouldn’t have been possible. I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished.

He explains that AI is helpful for game development, but it won’t replace human developers. He emphasizes that creating excellent games requires dedication and key elements like a strong vision, a positive team environment, and well-defined goals, all of which guide the development process.

Regardless of your opinion on what Strandberg believes about AI, it’s clear that The Finals and ARC Raiders have both been very successful games for the studio.

What are your thoughts on this? Discuss in the comments section below.

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2025-11-04 17:07