Nexon's CEO Emphasizes the Importance of Assuming Widespread AI Adoption in the Gaming Industry

In the wake of the Arc Raiders launch and the ensuing debate over the use of generative AI, Nexon's CEO, Junghun Lee, has stated that it is crucial to assume all game companies are leveraging AI technology. This comes as Arc Raiders, developed by Embark Studios and published by Nexon, faces criticism for utilizing procedural and AI-based tools in content creation, as disclosed on its Steam page. Speaking with Gamespark, Lee noted that AI has significantly enhanced efficiency in both game development and live service operations. He emphasized, 'I think it's essential to assume every game company is now using AI. However, if all companies are working with similar technologies, the real challenge becomes how to survive and stand out. I believe it's vital to adopt a strategy that boosts competitiveness.' Last month, Embark Studios' CCO, Stefan Strandberg, shared with Eurogamer that his team uses AI as a tool to assist in content creation, always within the context of creativity. Arc Raiders employs text-to-speech (TTS) for some voice acting, a technology also used in The Finals. Strandberg explained that TTS allows for increasing the game's scope in areas where it's needed or where there's repetition, and it does so without relying on generative AI for the overall gaming experience. He added that when the studio was founded, the goal was to capitalize on new technologies while keeping the team small and taking creative risks. This approach enables the team to increase the game's scope and achieve features that wouldn't be possible with such a small team otherwise. The comments from Nexon's CEO follow industry discussions about AI use in Arc Raiders, particularly after a review by Eurogamer criticized the use of AI voice generation. Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, also chimed in, defending the use of AI and stating that it increases human productivity, leading to better games rather than fewer jobs. Earlier this year, SAG-AFTRA members voted in favor of an agreement that includes protections for voice actors against AI, such as consent and disclosure requirements for AI digital replica use.