Dispatch Developers Take Strong Stance Against AI Voice Acting in Gaming

AdHoc Takes Firm Stance Against AI Voice Technology

AdHoc studio, the developer behind the successful episodic superhero workplace comedy Dispatch, has taken a definitive position against using artificial intelligence for voice acting in their games. In recent interviews with GamesIndustry.biz, the studio's creative director Nick Herman and executive producer Michael Choung articulated their philosophy that prioritizes human creativity over technological shortcuts 1

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Herman's critique of AI voice technology was particularly pointed, stating that "AI feels like a production solution, not a creative one. Maybe it's a creative one if you aren't creative." This sharp assessment comes as the gaming industry grapples with increasing adoption of AI technologies across various development processes 1

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The Human Element in Performance

The developers' stance is rooted in their direct experience with acclaimed voice actors. Dispatch features a star-studded cast including Jeffrey Wright, known for his roles in Westworld and The Last of Us, and Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad. Herman emphasized Wright's irreplaceable contribution, noting that "No AI is going to do what he did. He brought something to that character that we weren't expecting" .

Source: GamesRadar

The creative director argued that human performers "elevate the material in a way that you're just not going to get [with AI]." He explained that AI-generated voices can only offer "something you've heard before," lacking the spontaneity and unexpected elements that human actors bring to their roles 2

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Industry Context and Controversy

AdHoc's position comes amid growing controversy over AI voice usage in gaming. Arc Raiders, developed by Embark Studios, recently faced significant backlash for implementing AI voices through text-to-speech technology. Embark's co-founder Stefan Strandberg defended the decision, claiming "there's no end goal in replacing any actors," though this justification has not quelled criticism from players and industry observers 2

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Choung addressed the broader industry trend toward cost-cutting measures, stating that AdHoc doesn't wake up "talking to ourselves like, 'hey, what if we did this with less people? What's the lowest number of people we can use to make this thing?'" He emphasized that this approach to minimizing human involvement "is not anything that we're too concerned with" .

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Technical Limitations and Quality Standards

The executive producer also highlighted technical concerns with current AI voice technology. While acknowledging that the studio is "monitoring the stuff that AI is doing," Choung noted that the technology "seems to be having a lot of trouble trying to get to a 'good enough' spot." For AdHoc, he emphasized that "'good enough' for us is the enemy," indicating their commitment to higher quality standards .

Despite their strong position, the developers maintained a diplomatic stance toward other studios' choices. Choung stated they don't want to "sit here and judge" other developers like Embark for their AI implementation decisions, acknowledging that different studios can "speak for themselves" regarding their creative choices 2

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