There are mere seconds left on the clock to secure the Cash Out. With some gusto and confidence, my squad attempts to pull off one last steal. In the cans of my headset, seasoned The Finals pro and in-universe announcer Scotty shouts out the devastating villain who sent me back to the lobby. His name? The Jonkler. In Season 12, Embark Studios is making this a reality.
Much has been said about The Finals’ use of text-to-speech technology. Embark uses samples from paid actors to generate new dialogue, ranging from in-game callouts to commentary on events unfolding across the arena. So far, it’s pretty repetitive, and you’ve likely heard every pun under the sun from June and Scotty. The FPS’ latest seasonal update lets Scotty shout out usernames, marking the start of a push to expand the game show premise.
Under the moniker of ‘dynamic commentary,’ Audio Director Carl Strandberg says “your name can become part of the show.” When players do something noteworthy, Embark’s TTS system will recognize usernames in a set number of scenarios, in real time. “Keeping it narrow means we can curate what he [Scotty] actually says, [and] make sure it sounds good,” Strandberg adds.
It’s a curious move, considering Embark is making a push for more human performances in Arc Raiders, starting with the overhaul of NPC Celeste. Dynamic commentary also raises questions about safeguards. It’s only a matter of time before someone tries to get Scotty to say something unsavoury. Embark has likely considered this, but we’ve already seen similar technology cause problems when Epic Games experimented with AI Darth Vader in Fortnite.
Limiting commentary to specific scenarios should help, but how well those safeguards hold up once players start testing the boundaries remains to be seen. Dynamic commentary is just one part of Season 12, which launches on Tuesday, October 20. The update introduces the Mimic Device and Translocator gadgets. Solo Showdown also arrives, bringing a 12-player tournament mode with three randomly selected rounds across eight mini-modes.
Embark is also upgrading destruction physics, allowing structures to bend, sag, and collapse more naturally. Smoke will react to forces in the arena, while improved footsteps should make tracking enemies easier. Whether Scotty calling you out by name becomes a match highlight or a new way for opponents to make you look daft, it’s certainly worth keeping an ear out for.