The gaming industry finds itself at a crossroads with artificial intelligence, and few voices have captured the complexity of this moment quite like Helldivers 2 boss Shams Jorjani. When the Arrowhead Game Studios CEO recently weighed in on ARC Raiders’ controversial use of AI technology, his comments struck a chord that resonates far beyond the immediate controversy. In an era where discussions about AI in gaming often devolve into polarized extremes, Jorjani’s perspective offers a refreshing dose of nuance that the industry desperately needs.
The AI Debate: More Than Black and White
Speaking on The Game Business Show, Jorjani didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. “I find that anything that is an AI-related debate in the games industry ends up being on both ends of the spectrum,” he observed. This insight cuts to the heart of why the ARC Raiders AI controversy has become such a lightning rod for discussion. On one side, you have executives like Square Enix leadership talking about automating 70% of QA testing, while on the other, developers who feel “their livelihood… the very fabric of their being is being threatened, and therefore all AI is bad AI.”
Jorjani’s response? A simple yet profound question: “Maybe, could it be, that reality is somewhere in the middle? Could it be?”
This middle-ground approach is precisely what makes the Helldivers 2 boss’s comments so valuable in the current climate. Rather than jumping to defend or condemn ARC Raiders’ use of AI outright, he encourages a more thoughtful examination of how the technology can be implemented responsibly.
Understanding ARC Raiders’ AI Implementation
To fully appreciate Jorjani’s perspective, it’s essential to understand exactly what ARC Raiders is doing with AI technology. Embark Studios, the developer behind the breakout extraction shooter, has implemented two distinct AI systems that serve different purposes:
First, the game uses reinforcement learning for enemy animations, creating more dynamic and responsive enemy behaviors that adapt to player actions. This type of AI has been part of gaming for years, though the technology continues to evolve.
Second, and more controversially, ARC Raiders employs text-to-speech (TTS) technology trained on recordings of real voice actors. This system allows the game to generate voice lines for items, locations, and compass directions without requiring voice actors to return to the studio for every new piece of content added to the game.
What makes this approach particularly noteworthy is that Embark Studios reportedly paid the voice actors for their work and obtained their consent to use their voices in this manner. The actors weren’t replaced; rather, their performances were extended through technology, creating new dialogue possibilities that would have been impractical to implement through traditional recording sessions.
Why the Helldivers 2 Boss Sees Value in ARC Raiders’ Approach
When Helldivers 2’s CEO comments on ARC Raiders’ use of AI, he’s not just offering a corporate talking point—he’s speaking from personal experience as both a developer and a player. “I don’t do voice in games because I’m Swedish,” Jorjani explained. “Communicating directly with people I don’t know is very scary, I don’t want to put my voice out there with my accent or whatever it is.”
This personal connection to the issue helps explain why he views ARC Raiders’ AI voice technology as “a very interesting use case that actually makes gaming better.” The system allows players who might otherwise be hesitant to use voice chat—whether due to privacy concerns, accent anxiety, or fear of harassment—to participate more fully in the game’s social aspects.
“I think this allows more people to connect with each other, which is ultimately a good gaming thing,” Jorjani noted. This accessibility angle is often overlooked in the heated debates about AI’s impact on jobs, but it represents a genuine benefit that shouldn’t be dismissed.
The Thematic Irony That Can’t Be Ignored
One of the most fascinating aspects of the ARC Raiders AI controversy is the sheer irony of it all. Here we have a game built around the premise of humanity fighting back against machines that have replaced them, yet the game itself uses machine learning to generate human voices. The contradiction is so stark it’s almost impossible to miss.
As one Game Rant analysis pointed out, “Embark built a game about machines replacing humans, and it used machines to replace humans to do it.” This isn’t subtle meta-commentary; it’s a straightforward case of a game’s themes directly contradicting its production methods.
Yet this irony might actually strengthen Jorjani’s argument about finding middle ground. The fact that ARC Raiders can be both thematically resonant and technologically controversial suggests that the AI debate in gaming isn’t as simple as “good versus evil.” Instead, it’s a complex landscape where the same technology can be both problematic and beneficial depending on how it’s implemented.
The Industry Context: Beyond ARC Raiders
The Helldivers 2 boss’s comments don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re part of a broader industry conversation about AI’s role in game development, with executives from major companies weighing in with their own perspectives.
Nexon CEO Junghun Lee, whose company publishes ARC Raiders, recently stated that “it’s important to assume that every game company is now using AI.” This pragmatic acknowledgment reflects the reality that AI tools have already become integrated into development pipelines across the industry, whether consumers realize it or not.
Other industry leaders have offered varying perspectives. EA’s Andrew Wilson has called AI “the very core of our business,” while Hideo Kojima views AI as “more of a friend” that can handle tedious development tasks. Even Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, while skeptical about AI’s creative capabilities, acknowledges it as “the future of technology.”
Against this backdrop, Jorjani’s call for nuance and middle ground stands out as particularly balanced and thoughtful. He’s not advocating for unchecked AI adoption nor complete rejection of the technology, but rather for a considered approach that weighs both the benefits and risks.
The Critical Importance of Fair Compensation
If there’s one point that Jorjani emphasizes above all others, it’s the need to ensure that creators are fairly compensated when their work is used to train AI systems. “We need to make sure that we’re not stealing people’s intellectual property and rights,” he stated firmly.
This focus on fair compensation addresses one of the most significant concerns voice actors and other creatives have about AI technology. The fear isn’t just about being replaced by machines—it’s about having their life’s work used to train those machines without permission or payment.
In the case of ARC Raiders, Embark Studios appears to have addressed this concern by paying voice actors for their initial performances and obtaining consent for the AI use of their voices. While this doesn’t satisfy all critics, it represents a step toward the ethical implementation that Jorjani advocates.
“Let’s just make sure that people are paid for their work,” the Helldivers 2 boss urged. “Like, surely there’s a middle ground here, come on.”
Efficiency vs. Creativity: Finding the Right Balance
Another crucial aspect of Jorjani’s perspective is his distinction between AI that enhances efficiency and AI that replaces creativity. This nuance is often lost in heated debates about the technology.
“We don’t put any AI in the games, but if it can allow me to do my receipts faster, then that’s more Helldivers for everyone,” he explained. This practical approach acknowledges that AI can be valuable for handling tedious tasks that don’t directly contribute to the creative process, freeing up developers to focus on the work that actually matters.
The distinction matters because not all AI use is created equal. Using AI to transcribe interviews or automate administrative tasks is fundamentally different from using it to generate art or voice performances that could have been created by humans. Jorjani recognizes this difference and argues that the industry should be having more nuanced conversations about where to draw the line.
The Player Perspective: Does AI Actually Improve Gaming?
Ultimately, the most important question in any discussion about AI in gaming is whether it actually makes games better for players. On this point, Jorjani is unequivocal in his assessment of ARC Raiders’ approach.
From a player standpoint, there are clear benefits to the AI voice technology in ARC Raiders. The system allows for more dynamic and responsive voice interactions that can adapt to new content without requiring constant recording sessions. This means players can hear their character call out specific item names or locations that might not have been voiced in a traditional production.
Additionally, as Jorjani pointed out, the technology makes the game more accessible to players who might otherwise avoid voice communication. In an era where online gaming communities can be toxic, giving players options to protect their privacy while still participating fully is a significant accessibility win.
However, it’s worth noting that the AI voices in ARC Raiders have received mixed reviews from players. Some find them serviceable but unremarkable, while others criticize them for lacking the emotional depth and nuance of human performances. This mixed reception suggests that while AI voice technology has promise, it still has room for improvement before it can truly match human talent.
The Future of AI in Gaming: Lessons from the ARC Raiders Debate
As the gaming industry continues to grapple with AI’s role, the ARC Raiders controversy and the Helldivers 2 boss’s response offer valuable lessons for developers, players, and policymakers alike.
First and foremost, the debate highlights the need for transparency. When players don’t know how AI is being used in the games they play, it erodes trust and fuels suspicion. Embark Studios’ somewhat contradictory statements about their AI use haven’t helped matters, demonstrating why clear communication is essential.
Second, the controversy underscores the importance of setting boundaries. Just because AI can be used doesn’t mean it should be used for everything. The industry needs to have thoughtful conversations about which applications of AI enhance the gaming experience and which diminish it.
Third, Jorjani’s comments remind us that the AI debate isn’t binary. There’s room for middle ground where AI can be used responsibly to improve games while still protecting the livelihoods of creative professionals.
What This Means for the Future of Helldivers 2?
Given Arrowhead Game Studios’ cautious approach to AI, it’s unlikely that Helldivers 2 will adopt the same AI voice technology as ARC Raiders anytime soon. However, Jorjani’s openness to the technology suggests that the studio isn’t completely opposed to exploring AI applications that could enhance the game without compromising its creative vision.
What’s more likely is that Arrowhead will continue to use AI for behind-the-scenes efficiency improvements—things like automated testing, asset optimization, and development tools that don’t directly impact the player experience. This aligns with Jorjani’s philosophy of using AI to “remove the stuff we don’t want to do” rather than replace creative work.
For Helldivers 2 players, this means the game will likely continue to feel distinctly human in its creative execution while benefiting from the efficiency gains that AI can provide in development.
The Broader Implications for the Gaming Industry
The Helldivers 2 boss’s comments on ARC Raiders’ AI use come at a critical moment for the gaming industry. As AI technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, developers and publishers are grappling with how to integrate these tools responsibly.
Jorjani’s middle-ground approach offers a potential path forward that balances innovation with ethical considerations. By acknowledging both the benefits and risks of AI technology, he’s helping to shape a more nuanced conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries.
This perspective is particularly valuable given the gaming industry’s history of technological innovation. From the shift from 2D to 3D graphics to the advent of online multiplayer, gaming has always been at the forefront of technological change. AI represents the next frontier in this evolution, and having thoughtful voices like Jorjani’s in the conversation will be crucial to ensuring that this transition benefits everyone involved.
Conclusion: The Path Forward for AI in Gaming
As the debate over AI in gaming continues to evolve, Helldivers 2 boss Shams Jorjani’s comments on ARC Raiders’ use of AI provide a much-needed voice of reason in an increasingly polarized discussion. His call for nuance and middle ground recognition that the technology isn’t inherently good or evil—it’s all about how it’s implemented.
The key takeaways from Jorjani’s perspective are clear: AI can be a valuable tool for enhancing gaming experiences when used responsibly, but it must be implemented with proper compensation for creators and respect for intellectual property rights. The technology shows particular promise for accessibility improvements and efficiency gains, but it shouldn’t be used to replace the human creativity that makes games special.
As the gaming industry moves forward with AI integration, it would do well to embrace Jorjani’s balanced approach. By finding the middle ground between unchecked technological adoption and complete rejection of innovation, the industry can harness AI’s benefits while protecting the creative professionals who make gaming great.
The ARC Raiders controversy may eventually fade, but the questions it raises about AI’s role in creative industries will only become more important. With thoughtful leaders like Shams Jorjani contributing to the conversation, there’s hope that the gaming industry can navigate these challenges successfully and emerge stronger on the other side.