ARC Raiders keeps stirring debate after Nexon CEO Junghun Lee pushed back on criticism of the game’s AI-generated voices and said developers across the industry are already using AI tools.
Lee framed the AI voice controversy as part of a larger change in production methods. In an Automaton Media interview he said assuming every game maker is using AI is a reasonable starting point and that the real question is how studios respond to those tools. The comments land while ARC Raiders has been both commercially and critically high performing. The title reached strong sales and player numbers in its first week and has been the subject of coverage about whether AI use should affect reviews. Read more in a piece examining whether ARC Raiders review scores should be affected by AI use.
Embark Studios has said that voice actors consented to AI replication of their lines and were paid for it. The studio also uses machine learning to tune enemy behavior and animations, and it says those systems help ship updates faster and lower ongoing costs. Opponents point out that AI voice lines can feel hollow and that broader rules or standards for consent and credit are not yet settled across the industry. Supporters argue that AI can extend a performer’s reach and speed production when handled transparently and with fair compensation.
On the ground, the controversy has not stopped players from buying and playing ARC Raiders. The debate is more visible among critics and some outlets that have flagged the voice work as a reason to lower their ratings. That reaction is fueling discussion about how much weight AI practices should carry in critical scoring. The conversation around AI in games is shifting from novelty to policy. Studios, performers, and publishers will likely need more explicit norms on licensing, consent, and disclosure if AI becomes routine in audio and animation pipelines.
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