Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani used a recent interview to push back against polarized takes on generative AI in games, arguing that conversations too often end up at extremes rather than in a balanced place. Speaking on a YouTube edition of The Game Business, Jorjani addressed the row over ARC Raiders using AI-generated voices for actors and the broader concern that AI could undermine creators. He said the industry needs more nuance and practical rules while courts work out fair use.
“Maybe could it be that reality is somewhere in the middle” Jorjani asked. He pointed to long-established middleware that automates work as an example of tech that quietly changed workflows without generating the same moral panic.
Jorjani used the middleware example to explain why reactions to voice AI feel different now. He noted studios pay for services such as Simplygon to automate tasks that used to be done by hand. The difference now is scale and the potential to generate new audio that goes beyond what actors recorded in studio sessions. On ARC Raiders specifically, he said the technology can be enjoyable and valuable if handled correctly. Jorjani suggested AI voice tools could help more people contribute to games while also stressing that performers must be paid and rights respected. He asked for a pragmatic approach rather than blanket rejection.
The interview also drew a line between AI used to increase efficiency and AI used to replace creative work. Jorjani argued that distinction often gets lost in public debate. He added that Arrowhead currently does not incorporate AI into its games but will use tools to save time on routine tasks. “That is more Helldivers for everyone” he said. The remarks follow a string of public comments from Arrowhead leadership about technical and design choices since Helldivers 2 launched. For context on the studio’s recent public position on development and fixes see the performance fixes will take months piece.
This conversation matters because court rulings on fair use are still pending, and because the practical ways studios license and compensate creative contributors will shape how widely and quickly voice AI is adopted. Actors and unions have raised concerns that generated voices could be used to sidestep pay and credit. Developers, meanwhile, argue that new tools can speed production and add features that would otherwise be impossible.
Jorjani framed the debate as a call to find workable standards now rather than defaulting to absolutist positions. He warned that treating every AI tool as equivalent risks discarding useful efficiencies while also undermining protections for creative work.
Watch the full interview on YouTube
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Helldivers 2
Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
- Genre: Shooter, Tactical
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2024-02-08
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
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Age Rating:
PEGI 18 / ACB MA 15+ / GRAC 19+ / USK 16 / CERO Z / CLASS_IND 18 / ESRB M
- IGDB Rating: 82.2/100
