The head of Embark Studios (ARC Raiders) believes AI is good for both devs and gamers alike
, by Thibaut
2026 is starting off much like 2025 ended. Debates surrounding generative artificial intelligence continue. This time, it's Patrick Söderlund, founder of Embark Studios, who is defending this tool.
When it was released on October 30, ARC Raiders sparked a minor controversy due to its use of AI voice synthesis. In an interview with GamesBeat, Söderlund addressed this controversy. For him, artificial intelligence can be beneficial for development teams. It also offers real benefits for players by allowing updates to be deployed more quickly.
"I think people have misconceptions about what this means. We don't use artificial intelligence to avoid hiring or replacing employees, or to eliminate jobs. That's not the goal. We work with several voice actors on contract. We work with them regularly and will continue to do so. They are, of course, essential to our project, but thanks to artificial intelligence, we pay them for their voices, and sometimes using a synthetic voice allows us to update the game much more quickly. If you want a change, we can submit it quickly."
"I think it's important to take a step back, analyze the situation, and understand what it's all about, its potential, and the fact that it could be a valuable aid to developers, and therefore a considerable asset to players. Of course, misuse can be problematic... I realize that the subject is complex and deserves discussion, but for us, it has never been about replacing people. Rather, it's about simplifying and speeding up tedious, even boring tasks. It's about optimizing employees' time by assigning it to more relevant activities. I sincerely hope that this will not provoke negative reactions. It shouldn't."
"AI will have a huge impact on many aspects of our society today, but I think we need to learn how to manage this situation and understand its implications. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. For our part, we wouldn't have been able to create the games we've developed or maintain them. The Finals, for example, has been updated every week since its launch. It has benefited from significant improvements and updates. What's more, it's free, so you can play it without spending a penny. We couldn't have done all this without the help of artificial intelligence, but above all thanks to wise investments in tools, processes, technology, and recruiting exceptional people. It's first and foremost a human industry. I can't imagine games being created automatically by artificial intelligence."