xQc / Embark StudiosPopular streamer Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel has blamed Arc Raiders’ use of AI voice lines for its exclusion from the Game of the Year category at The Game Awards 2025.
It’s that time of the year again when The Game Awards reveals its nominees for the standout titles over the last year, and the internet argues about what should or shouldn’t have made the cut. This time, it’s Arc Raiders not being nominated for Game of the Year that’s caused the fiercest debate, with Shroud calling the awards “rigged.”
The extraction shooter from Embark Studios is one of 2025’s most critically acclaimed games, but despite being put forward in the Best Multiplayer Game category, it’s not in contention for the biggest award of the night, losing out to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong: Bananza, and Death Stranding 2, among others.
This left many fans scratching their heads, but streaming star xQc has explained why he thinks the game has missed out.
xQc thinks use of AI caused Arc Raiders to miss out on GOTY
In a November 19 post on X, he pointed the finger at Arc Raiders’ use of AI as a potential reason for being snubbed in the GOTY category.
“I think The Game Awards are trying to avoid alienating their viewerbase by not including Arc Raiders in a few categories because of the “AI” controversy,” he wrote. “Ironically, they are alienating those who care about the integrity of the show.”
When another user asked why Arc Raiders would be nominated at all if it were true, he added:
“That’s pretty much my ‘evidence’ it’s being done deliberately. They put it in one category to defuse the outrage, and refuse to acknowledge the game’s achievement in other ones. I don’t care about Arc not being nominated, I care about the pattern being obvious.”
Related
In case you missed it, Embark Studios uses two types of AI in Arc Raiders. The first is machine learning, which allows its robotic enemies to learn and react based on players’ movements.
The second, and more controversial, is text-to-speech (TTS) voice lines, which are created using recordings of real voice actors. Embark Studios CCO Stefan Strandberg defended the practice in an interview with Eurogamer, saying:
“TTS 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.”
Despite this, it’s been one of the biggest criticisms levelled at the game since launch. But whether or not it played any part in Arc Raiders not being nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards is currently unknown.