Key information
Embark is updating Arc Raiders by replacing text-to-speech software with real human performances for its characters, beginning with the underground settlement leader Celeste. Although Diana Gardner has voiced Celeste from the start, the developer felt the previous implementation suffered from a stilted personality that failed to capture her performance accurately.
To fix this limitation, the studio is introducing full motion capture and detailed facial capture technologies. This upgrade allows developers to map Gardner's facial expressions and genuine emotions onto the character with significantly higher accuracy, addressing previous immersion-breaking constraints.
Embark explained that past facial animations fell short of communicating narrative stakes properly. Moving forward, upcoming updates will bring other characters closer to their real-world actors, aiming to deliver much more authentic interactions throughout the Rust Belt.
Celeste serves as the initial step for these improvements. The transition will be showcased in the Frozen Trail trailer, which is scheduled for release on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, ahead of the update arriving in October 2026.
