The Finals' Rebuttal to AI Criticism

Article Key Points

Embark Studios responds to criticism over the use of AI voices in The Finals, stating that a "game without actors isn't the end goal."

Despite facing backlash, The Finals continues to generate excitement with over 260,000 players playing simultaneously on Steam during its inaugural weekend. However, the controversy surrounding AI voice acting casts a negative shadow on an otherwise triumphant release for this multiplayer shooter.

The Finals, a multiplayer shooter developed by Embark Studios, has responded to recent criticisms regarding its use of AI voice acting in the open beta. Despite generating a lot of excitement among fans since its initial announcement, the game has faced challenges during its open beta launch. Players on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions have reported significant issues with the console versions, such as frequent client crashes. Embark has publicly acknowledged these problems and promised to fix them. Additionally, the game has become so popular that it has implemented a login queue to accommodate the large playerbase. However, the focus of the latest controversy surrounding The Finals revolves around its use of AI voices.

Embark Studios has responded to the growing criticism surrounding its use of AI voices in The Finals. According to IGN, Embark clarifies that its ultimate aim is not to create a game devoid of human actors. The studio confirms that it employs a blend of AI and real voice actors for the in-game dialogue. Embark had previously disclosed the utilization of AI voices for certain callouts, while relying on in-studio voices for sound effects such as grunting and breathing sounds. The recent statement from Embark further solidifies that The Finals incorporates AI voice work drawn from both voice actors and in-house employees.

AI voice acting has sparked controversy in the gaming industry and Hollywood recently. It played a significant role in both the SAG-AFTRA and Writer's Guild strikes earlier this year. Even the gaming industry got caught up in the ongoing strike, as video game voice actors considered joining SAG-AFTRA's strike. This strike follows a trend of unionization efforts in the gaming industry in recent years.

Despite facing criticism for its use of AI voices, The Finals has still managed to build considerable hype. The highly-anticipated shooter attracted over 260,000 concurrent players during its first weekend on Steam. Fans are already lauding The Finals as a potential successful esports title, praising its fully destructible environments and fast-paced gameplay. While the AI criticism remains, it has not overshadowed the shooter's overall successful open beta launch.

The Finals

Framed as a game show, The Finals is an upcoming free-to-play multiplayer shooter that also supports melee combat. 

Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SDeveloper(s) Embark StudiosPublisher(s) Embark StudiosGenre(s) FPSMultiplayer Online Multiplayer See at Steam

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the integration of AI voices in video games. On the one hand, I understand the potential benefits of using AI voices, such as reducing production costs and allowing for more realistic and immersive experiences. On the other hand, I am concerned about the potential impact of AI voices on the voice acting industry and the overall quality of video games.

I believe that AI voices have the potential to be a valuable tool for game developers, but I also believe that it is important to use them in a way that does not replace human voice actors. AI voices should be used to supplement human voice actors, not to replace them. Additionally, I believe that it is important to be transparent about the use of AI voices in video games so that players can make informed decisions about whether or not they want to play a game that uses them.