You'll have no doubt heard about ARC Raiders, an online multiplayer extraction shooter that's currently taking the gaming world by storm.
With big player numbers and universal critical acclaim, it seems the game is a hit — but that doesn't mean it hasn't come under some scrutiny.
Developer Embark Studios used some AI tools to build the game, just as it did with The Finals, and CCO Stefan Strandberg has stepped in to defend its approach.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Strandberg stresses that generative AI has not been used in the development of ARC Raiders, and explains which AI tools have been utilised and how they've helped make the game.
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"We use AI as tools to assist in some content creation, but it's always in the context of creativity, as an expression of the team," Strandberg says. "Obviously, it depends on how people define AI, which makes it trickier. The locomotion for some of our Arc enemies has been trained with machine learning, which creates these fantastic emergent moments. If you shoot off a leg, it'll try to rebalance. That's AI, if you will."
In addition, the game uses AI-driven text-to-speech tech in conjunction with real voice acting, in much the same way as Embark did with The Finals.
"I came out of recording just two days ago with two wonderful actors that you'll have heard in the pre-order trailer," he says. "Those are real actors. There's something special and dynamic about putting two people together that to me, being a sound designer originally, there's nothing that can replace that in my opinion.
"[Text-to-speech] allows us to increase the scope of the game in some areas where we think it's needed, or where there's tedious repetition, in situations where the voice actors may not see it as valuable work. So it's a wide umbrella, but the experience of the game doesn't use any generative AI."
Implementing these AI tools into the developer's work flow has helped to keep Embark a smaller, more efficient group, Strandberg says, pointing to "unsustainable" large teams that can easily collapse.
"When we started the studio we were saying we should be able to capitalise more on these technologies that come out, but studios that were formed 15 years ago or so, they are just set up differently. We started with this in mind, how can we leverage new technologies, how can we push new technologies, while keeping the team small and taking creative risks. Also, it can help you increase the scope of a game and get features to be in a state that they wouldn't be otherwise with such a small team. So I'm proud of what we've achieved there."
He goes on to say that, while AI can be a great tool in development, the technology isn't a replacement for human developers. "There are no shortcuts to making great games. You need so many things in place: a clear vision, a great culture, clear goals. The vision will inform how you get there."
Whether you agree with Strandberg's view on AI usage or not, what can't be argued is that The Finals, and now ARC Raiders, have been big successes for the studio.